The greatest popular music programme?
by dfle3 | created - 03 Feb 2014 | updated - 29 May 2014 | PublicProgrammes dedicated to modern music, with an emphasis on ones from the English speaking world (i.e. U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand).
IMDB does not have a match for all the titles that I wanted, so maybe your favourite show isn't here because of that.
Which one is/was your "go to" programme?
[This List is based on a poll I withdrew from the Polls section...it's hard getting a poll up which doesn't have "The dark knight" as an option!]
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1. Austin City Limits (1975– )
60 min | Documentary, Music
Established singer-songwriters and acclaimed newcomers perform country, blues, rock, folk, bluegrass, and related styles of music from Studio 6A of public television station KLRU (formerly KLRN) at the University of Texas at Austin.
Stars: Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, John Prine, Jason Isbell
Votes: 326
1976 - present.
PBS (U.S.A.)
2. American Bandstand (1952–1989)
TV-G | 90 min | Music, Talk-Show
Dick Clark hosts a daily to weekly dance show that features the latest hit music for the attending teens to dance to. In addition, the show has performances by popular musicians and audience members rate songs.
Stars: Dick Clark, Charlie O'Donnell, Peaches Johnson, Stan Rodarte
Votes: 396
American bandstand".
1952 - 1989.
Hosted by Dick Clark.
ABC (U.S.A.)
3. Bandstand (1958–1972)
55 min | Music
A weekly presentation of popular music, which went through many format changes during its long run.
Stars: Brian Henderson, The Delltones, Judy Stone, Col Joye
Votes: 39
"Bandstand (Australia)".
1958 - 1972.
Hosted by Brian Henderson.
Nine Network.
4. Beatboxe (2012)
6 min | Short, Action, Musical
On his way to his regular dancing practice, a boy can't use his boom-box. He calls his friend, who is busy practicing his boxing skills, to help him out.
Director: Alexandre Desane | Stars: Henry Chu, Alexandre Desane
No match on this site. "Beatbox".
1985 - 1988.
ABC TV (Australia)
Again, I think that this show didn't have music as a central element and I'm not sure if the music was contemporary...definitely had a focus on more hard rock acts, if I recall. Midnight Oil's drummer Rob Hirst did the title music for this and there is a You Tube of him performing it for the show's opening credits.
5. Countdown (1974–1987)
Music
Countdown was a long-running popular weekly Australian music television show broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 8 November 1974 until 19 July 1987.
Stars: Ian 'Molly' Meldrum, Debra Byrne, Stevie Wright, Daryl Braithwaite
Votes: 65
1974 - 1987.
Hosted by Ian "Molly" Meldrum.
ABC TV, Australia.
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Related: "Countdown revolution"
1989 - 1990
Replaced "Countdown"...briefly.
Originally hosted by Tania Lacy and Mark Little until they were sacked over their protesting of the ABC's policy of having music acts mime to their music on their show.
6. Electric Circus (1988–2012)
90 min | Music
Stars: Bonnie Siu, Amanda Walsh, Talia Russo, Juliet Ladines
Votes: 55
1988 - 2003.
Hosted by Monika Deol et.al.
Canada.
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No match on this site for "City limits" which I would have liked to have included.
1980s.
Hosted by Christopher Ward et. al.
Canada.
7. The Eurovision Song Contest (1956 TV Special)
Music
First edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest under the name "Gran Premio Eurovisione 1956 della Canzone Europea" on May 24th, 1956 from the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland. "Refrain" from Lys Assia is the first winner.
Director: Franco Marazzi | Stars: Lohengrin Filipello, Fernando Paggi, Jetty Paerl, Lys Assia
Votes: 52
1956 - present.
EBC.
8. Flashes (2010)
7 min | Short, Drama
A young man returns to Hong Kong to confront his past.
Directors: Katherine Lo, Liz Lo | Stars: Siu Wai Cheung, Tonee Dang, Paul Kwo
Votes: 16
No match on this site. "Flashez".
1976 - 1977.
Hosted by Ray Burgess.
ABC TV (Australia)
Not strictly a music show...has other elements too.
9. GTK (1969–1975)
10 min | Short, Music
Stars: Led Zeppelin, Lobby Loyde, Germaine Greer, Jeune Pritchard
"Get to know".
1969 - 1975.
ABC TV (Australia)
1969 - 1972.
Hosted by Dick Williams.
ABC TV (Australia)
11. In Concert (1972– )
90 min | Music
This late Friday night ABC TV music series (1972-75), produced by Dick Clark Productions, featured select performances from several concerts each week. Footage of top R&B, Folk and Rock ... See full summary »
Stars: Seals & Crofts, Earth Wind & Fire, Chuck Berry, Dr. John
Votes: 41
Hosted by Don Branker.
ABC (U.S.A.)
12. Juke Box Jury (1959–1990)
30 min | Music
A panel of notable personalities rate the latest pop records.
Stars: David Jacobs, Pete Murray, Alan Freeman, Katie Boyle
Votes: 58
1959 - 1967
Hosted by Noel Edmonds, Jools Holland et. al.
BBC.
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Also, same title for U.S. version which inspired the British version...
1953 - 1954
Hosted by Peter Potter
ABC (U.S.A.)
13. Later... With Jools Holland (1992– )
60 min | Music, Talk-Show
Late-night music and chat show with celebrity guests.
Stars: Jools Holland, Paul Weller, PJ Harvey, Robert Plant
Votes: 567
1992 - present.
BBC.
14. The Midnight Special (1972–1981)
90 min | Music, Talk-Show
Late night rock and pop music performances are featured.
Stars: Wolfman Jack, Helen Reddy, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight
Votes: 381
1972 - 1981.
Hosted by Helen Reddy et.al.
NBC (U.S.A.)
15. MuchOnDemand (1997–2010)
60 min | Music
Stars: Natalie Mejia, Girlicious, Chrystina Sayers, Nichole Cordova
Votes: 46
1997 - 2010.
Hosted by Jennifer Hollett et. al.
Canada.
16. Unplugged (1989– )
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary, Music
Major pop music stars play their songs with only acoustic instruments.
Stars: 10,000 Maniacs, Perry Montague-Mason, Tony Bennett, Julieta Venegas
Votes: 536
"MTV (Unplugged)".
1989 - present.
Couldn't find a match for "MTV", so maybe you can count this as either a vote for "MTV Unplugged" or MTV in general?
17. Musical express (1978–1983)
50 min | Music
Stars: Àngel Casas, Javier Gurruchaga, Miguel Ríos, Luis Eduardo Aute
No match on this site. "Music express".
1975 - 1984.
Hosted by Steve Curtis and later joined by Steve Witham.
Seven network, Australia.
18. Music Video Music (2011 Video)
10 min | Short, Music, Musical
The music creates the video and the video creates the music.
Director: Meredith Hama-Brown
No match on this site. "Music video".
1983 - 1987.
Hosted by Basia Bonkowski et.al.
Network Ten (Australia).
19. Name That Tune (1953–1959)
Family, Game-Show, Music
The original version of the popular and long-running quiz show, hosted by Red Benson Contestants competed to see who had the more comprehensive knowledge of popular songs by trying to be ... See full summary »
Stars: Pat White, Bill Cullen, Norman 'Red' Benson, George DeWitt
Votes: 54
On in the air US on 1952 (originally on the NBC Radio) then on to tv from 1953-1959 on NBC then CBS.
A British version of this show appeared in 1956.
For American, British and other international versions of this show see the Wikipedia entry for that title.
20. Nightmoves (1976–1984)
Music
Nightmoves was an Australian weekly late-night popular music series, hosted by Melbourne rock DJ Lee Simon. The program featured music videos from around the world, studio and location ... See full summary »
Stars: Lee Simon, Peter Grace, Ivan Hutchinson
1977 - 1986.
Hosted by Lee Simon.
Network Seven, Network Ten (Australia).
21. Disco (2008)
103 min | Comedy, Music
Didier Travolta (Franck Dubosc) is a 40-year-old disco music fan who has no job, lives with his mother, and has a son he hasn't seen for a while in Britain. The mother of his son refuses to... See full summary »
Director: Fabien Onteniente | Stars: Franck Dubosc, Emmanuelle Béart, Gérard Depardieu, Samuel Le Bihan
Votes: 1,665
"No disco" (no IMDB listing, unfortunately)
1993 - 2003
Ireland
22. The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–2018)
45 min | Music
Contemporary music show featuring live performances and interviews with an emphasis on album acts.
Stars: Bob Harris, Anne Nightingale, David Hepworth, Mark Ellen
Votes: 241
1971 - 1987.
BBC2
23. Rage (1987– )
720 min | Music
Rage is the most popular all-night music show in Australia. It screens nationally on ABC TV. Rage was first screened in April 1987. On Fridays rage plays new releases followed by the ... See full summary »
Stars: Powderfinger, Queens of the Stone Age, Chris Cornell, Silverchair
Votes: 224
1987 - present
ABC TV
24. Rock (1982 TV Movie)
An eccentric, poor young couple who constantly lives in a dream world, desperately trying to make their existence feel like an adventure movie.
Director: Michel Tréguer | Stars: Jean-Pierre Kalfon, Anne Gautier, Lene Lovich, Jean-Pierre Bisson
No match on this site. "Rock arena".
1982 - 1989.
Hosted by Suzanne Dowling (and others).
ABC TV (Australia).
25. Race Around the World (1997–1998)
30 min | Documentary
Each series, eight budding film documentary makers spend 100 days travelling the globe, with only a digital video camera to keep them company. In that time they produce ten ... See full summary »
Stars: Richard Fidler, David Caesar, Ben Davies, Bentley Dean
Votes: 40
No match on this site. "Rock around the world".
1982 - 1985.
Hosted by Basia Bonkowski.
SBS TV (Australia)
26. Rock Concert (1973–1980)
90 min | Music
Weekly late-night progressive rock bands, many very well known, with some soft-pop (later) and occasional comic routines.
Stars: Don Kirshner, Gary Mule Deer, The Village Idiots, Natural Gas
Votes: 114
"Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"
1973 - 1981.
27. Ready, Steady, Go! (1963–1966)
50 min | Music
London based British Rock/Pop tv show broadcast every Friday night during its run until 23/12/1966. Presented by Keith Fordyce & Cathy McGowan. Featuring many performances by The Beatles,Rolling Stones & The Who amongst other 60's greats.
Stars: Sandy Sarjeant, Cathy McGowan, Mick Jagger, Dusty Springfield
Votes: 79
1963 - 1966.
Hosted by Keith Fordyce and Cathy McGowan, though early shows were introduced by Dusty Springfield.
ITV (U.K.).
28. Nocturnal (2002)
Director: David Mitchell | Stars: Daniela Amavia, Cassandra Braden, David Mitchell, Hans Uder
Votes: 15
No match on this site. "Rocturnal".
1970s
ABC TV (Australia)
This looked an excellent programme. "Rage" broadcast an old episode of this show which I've been informed was based out of Adelaide. The episode I saw a bit of had Australian punk pioneers Radio Birdman being interviewed as well as performing some songs. The show also actually made a music video for a Richard Hell song, I believe. If that episode was typical, a box set wouldn't be out of the question for me...if they made it!
29. Shazam! (1982–1985)
Music
Shazam! rode the 1980s music video boom created by the advent of MTV and the renaissance in NZ music. Aimed at a younger audience than Radio with Pictures, it played in a late afternoon, ... See full summary »
Stars: Robert Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Budgie, Steven Severin
Votes: 29
1982 - 1987
TV1 & TV2 (New Zealand).
This site doesn't have entries for many New Zealand that I was hoping to include, like:
"(Vodafone) Select (live)".
2003 - 2010.
C4 (New Zealand).
"Radio with pictures".
1976 – 88 with
Hosted by Barry 'Dr Rock' Jenkin on SPTV (TV2).
No exact match at this site. "Sing sing sing".
1963 - 1965.
Hosted by Johnny O'Keefe.
Channel Seven (Australia)
Also:
"The Johnny O'Keefe show"
1961 - 1962
Channel Seven.
31. Six O'Clock Rock (1960– )
Music
Variety show featuring rock and roll music.
Star: Johnny O'Keefe
1959 - 1962.
Hosted by Johnny O'Keefe
ABC TV, Australia.
32. Solid Gold (1980–1988)
60 min | Music
Television show featuring dancing and popular music.
Stars: Jaime Monroy, Robert W. Morgan, Dionne Warwick, Marilyn McCoo
Votes: 351
1980 - 1988.
Hosted by Andy Gibb, Marilyn McCoo et. al.
U.S.A.
33. Soul Train (1971–2006)
TV-14 | 60 min | Music, Talk-Show
Created by music impresario Don Cornelius, Soul Train is an African-American focused music-dance television program that aired 35 years, primarily featuring performances by R&B, soul, funk, pop, and hip hop artists.
Stars: Don Cornelius, Diana Puskas, Queen Turner, Carole Creekmore
Votes: 680
1971 - 2006.
Hosted by Don Cornelius.
U.S.A.
34. Sounds (2008)
Not Rated | 90 min | Comedy, Sci-Fi
There's a guy who likes a girl who keeps vomiting up parasitic alien egg sacks who needs to be saved by two incompetent FBI agents who can't spell "incompetent FBI agents" who never fail to... See full summary »
Director: Ryan Humphries | Stars: Janielle Atherton, Richanne Baldridge, Dorothy M. Crites, K. Brian Gruber
Votes: 136
No match on this site. Originally called "Sounds unlimited" but later shorted to just "Sounds".
1974 - 1987.
Hosted by Donnie Sutherland.
Seven network, Australia.
1998 - 2004
New Zealand.
36. Top of the Pops (1964–2023)
60 min | Music, News, Talk-Show
A rundown of the latest chart hits, featuring in-studio performances from popular music artists.
Stars: The Ladybirds, Pan's People, Jimmy Savile, Legs & Co
Votes: 1,125
1964 - 2006.
Hosted by Jimmy Savile et. al.
BBC
37. The Tube (1982–1987)
90 min | Music
Seminal Channel 4 live music series, famed for having the biggest music acts of the day performing live.
Stars: Jools Holland, Paula Yates, Leslie Ash, Muriel Gray
Votes: 124
1982 - 1987.
Hosted by Jools Holland et. al.
Channel 4 (U.K.)
38. Video Hits (1986–2011)
180 min | Music
Stars: Axle Whitehead, Kelly Cavuoto, Faustina Agolley, Nathan Sapsford
Votes: 26
(I'm bundling the Canadian and Australian versions together. Okay?)
(Canada)
1984 - 1993.
Hosted by Samantha Taylor, et.al.
CBC.
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(Australia)
1987 - 2011.
Hosted by 'Fuzzy" Agolley, et.al.
Network Ten.
1992 - present.
Hosted by Simon Evans, then Sook-Yin Lee, et. al.
Canada.
40. YTV's Hit List (1991–2005)
60 min | Music
Stars: Exan Auyoung, Leslie Bosacki, Justin Timberlake, Mandy Moore
Votes: 42
1991 - 2005.
Hosted by Danielle McGimsie et. al.
Canada.
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