Icon: Music Through the Lens

About the Show

Featuring in-depth and often irreverent interviews with the world's best-known music photographers, musicians, gallerists, music journalists and social commentators, ICON: Music Through the Lens is an eye-opening thrill ride through the amazing world of music photography. This series charts the fascinating lives and often crazy experiences of the men and women who have documented popular music in images, from the earliest darkrooms to the fast-evolving digital landscapes of the present day.

Posing the question "What makes an image iconic?" the series seeks answers through the studio portraits, record sleeves, music magazines, live shows, exhibitions, social media, coffee table books and the fine art world, to end with another question: What does the future hold for music photography?

Episode 1 | On Camera

What defines an iconic image? This question provides the central theme for Episode 1 as we are introduced to some of music photography's greatest names.

Episode 2 | On the Road

From the embryonic days of the modern music industry, live music photography has provided some of its most visually striking and era defining imagery. First-hand recollections and eye-opening stories from those early trailblazers and those still devoted to capturing the magic of live music, paint a vivid picture of life on the tour bus and in the photo pit.

Episode 3 | On the Record

The evolution of record sleeve photography from its roots in jazz and early rock 'n' roll through to the highly stylized concepts and imagery of modern-day music genres is discussed by art directors, musicians and, of course, the music photographers responsible for some of the world's most iconic album covers.

Episode 4 | On the Cover

Music magazines played a pivotal role in elevating music photography to iconic status, providing a visual context for some of the world's greatest bands and their music.

Episode 5 | On the Wall

Tracing the journey from the early days of low paid assignments through to the first gallery exhibitions of music photography, to expensive coffee table books and individual prints selling for big money, take an in-depth look at the relationship between art and commerce.

Episode 6 | On the Net

Where does music photography sit in the contemporary, popular culture landscape? The seismic switch from analogue to digital is discussed alongside the rise and influence of social media.