In the constant pursuit to create unique content to attract consumers in an increasingly competitive market, Amazon is hoping to lure in followers of The Grateful Dead with a brand new documentary about the iconic band.
Long Strange Trip, a four-hour documentary on the legendary 1970s band from Amir Bar-Lev, is sure to please Deadheads around the world.
“I first reached out to the Grateful Dead about this film back in 2003,” the filmmaker said via press release. “Since then, everyone who has come aboard has treated this project with a renegade spirit of cooperation and ingenuity worthy of the subject matter.”
As if a documentary about this band was not enough, it has the backing of one of the best filmmakers alive, Martin Scorsese.
“I’ve always admired the spirit and creativity of the Grateful Dead,” Scorsese said. “They are revolutionary artists who forever changed the world of touring and recording live music. They were a cultural force—a lifestyle, that continue to influence new generations of fans. This film will entertain and educate audiences about one of the most innovative and groundbreaking American bands of the 20th century.”
As Amazon continues to add to its library of quality programming you can only get with an Amazon Prime subscription, the success of this documentary may open the door for other documentary series Amazon can use to its advantage, but finding the best topic that will keep customers coming back is always the key.
Grateful Dead fans are as loyal as any music fans can be, so it is likely this has huge potential to draw a good audience. Amazon has done well with some of its Amazon Prime programming options, and there is reason to be optimistic about this upcoming documentary as well, while Amazon continues to compete with Hulu and Netflix (and Apple?) for customers.
The documentary is scheduled to drop on Amazon Prime in the United States and United Kingdom in May as a six-part series.
