Once you鈥檝e made your way through AP鈥檚 list of and dried those tears after bingeing 鈥淚 Am: Celine Dion鈥� 鈥� we won鈥檛 judge 鈥� it鈥檚 time to hand over the remote.
Here are 10 of The Associated Press鈥� favorite music documentaries of the year, featuring artists spanning genres and generations. Most are on streaming services and Amazon, Apple TV+, Disney+, MAX and Netflix all have options.
They are presented in no particular order:
鈥淪tax: Soulsville U.S.A.鈥�
. Isaac Hayes. Booker T. & the M.G.鈥檚. The Staple Singers. These bulwarks of American music history were at the heart of in the 鈥�50s and 鈥�60s via Stax Records, one of the greatest and most influential record labels in U.S. history. Not only that, but Stax embraced interracial creative endeavors at a point in the nation when doing so was life-threatening. The multi-part 鈥淪tax: Soulsville U.S.A.鈥� is a celebration of the label, a long overdue document of the institution, and offers viewers the opportunity to examine with that history.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on MAX.
鈥淭he Beach Boys鈥�
鈥淭he Beach Boys,鈥� by director Frank Marshall, tells the story of three Wilson brothers 鈥� , Carl and Dennis 鈥� along with cousin and friend Al Jardine, and how their sunny Southern California sound became beloved the world over through classics like 鈥淚 Get Around,鈥� 鈥淕ood Vibrations鈥� and 鈥淕od Only Knows.鈥� The film includes extensive new interviews as well as draws from archival footage to give the perspectives of Carl Wilson, who died from cancer in 1998, and Dennis Wilson, who drowned in a Los Angeles-area harbor in 1983. Brian Wilson makes current-day appearances in the film, including in an emotional scene at the end, as AP cleverly refused to spoil Just 鈥� go watch.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+.
鈥淭aylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood鈥�
It is an astonishing display of transparency in the music business: In 2019, music manager Scooter Braun鈥檚 Ithaca Holdings announced that it was acquiring Big Machine Label Group, which released Taylor Swift鈥檚 first six studio albums and owns her masters. At the time, Swift said she learned about the deal as a result, she began in order to own her new versions. A new two-part documentary, 鈥淭aylor Swift vs. Scooter Braun: Bad Blood鈥� interrogates the deal 鈥� and offers digestible details for those hoping to learn more about what went awry, from varying perspectives.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on MAX.
鈥淩oad Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band鈥�
It seems like there are innumerable documentaries out in the world, and most of them are worth viewing. But those who want to dive deep into the live experience of seeing Springsteen and the E Street Band 鈥� and let鈥檚 be honest here, the live show is a key component in loving the boss 鈥� a new film attempts to scratch the itch. 鈥淩oad Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band鈥� is directed by Thom Zimny, who was also behind the docs 鈥淲estern Stars鈥� and 鈥淪pringsteen on Broadway.鈥� This one candidly captures the band on their 2023-2024 tour, with archival footage mixed in.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
鈥淥livia Rodrigo: Guts World Tour鈥�
Last year, pop鈥檚 major players released blockbuster concert films. Both and the non-narrative topped AP鈥檚 2023 best of list, for breaking the fourth wall (in the case of the former) and artfully created a near-replica of the live experience (in the case of the latter). This year, the present pop phenom Olivia Rodrigo takes the mantle with her Netflix special, If you missed her on the road, don鈥檛 worry. This film captures the magic.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
鈥淓lton John: Never Too Late鈥�
Time鈥檚 2024 Icon of the Year, looks back at five decades of his career in a new documentary, 鈥淓lton John: Never Too Late.鈥� Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the film features never before seen footage and new interviews. Ever wonder how Reginald Kenneth Dwight became Elton John? Here鈥檚 an opportunity to learn.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Disney+.
鈥淭he Greatest Night in Pop鈥�
Nearly 40 years ago, superstars Willie Nelson, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Paul Simon, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel and , under the unimpeachable tutelage of the late great Quincy Jones, came together to record 鈥淲e Are the World, a 1985 charity single for African famine relief. A new Netflix documentary, takes a behind-the-scenes look at the complex birth of an unexpected megahit 鈥� and just what it was like to have all that talent in one studio, for one night.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Netflix.
鈥淢egan Thee Stallion: In Her Words鈥�
For her fans, Megan Thee Stallion is a larger-than-life figure; a fearless Houston MC that preached 鈥渉ot girl s鈥�-鈥� and self-empowerment. Behind the scenes 鈥� and quite frankly, in front of it, too 鈥� her experience has been all but glossy. Who could forget the onslaught of criticism she received during what experts described as a clear a specific type of misogyny experienced by Black women? In her Amazon documentary, Megan Thee Stallion candidly discusses the highs and lows of her experience with fame, social media, mental health and everything in-between.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Amazon Prime.
鈥淟uther: Never Too Much鈥�
鈥� the R&B crooner with a voice like silk and a penchant for timeless melodies 鈥� died in 2005. His legacy is celebrated in a new film, 鈥淟uther: Never Too Much,鈥� a dive into his life story. For diehard fans and curious, casual listeners alike.
WHERE TO WATCH: Currently in theaters and will premiere on CNN on New Year鈥檚 Day.
鈥淎BBA: Against the Odds鈥�
It might be hard to believe in 2024, but there was a period of time where the Swedish pop group of epic proportions, were considered鈥� kind of cheesy, schmaltzy, just all around uncool. 鈥淎BBA: Against the Odds鈥� details their journey, beginning with the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They won, gave the world 鈥淲aterloo,鈥� and, well, launched into their ascent to world domination. watch it unfold.
WHERE TO WATCH: Streaming on Apple TV+.
