American Pie: The Day The Music Died

Fully authorized and embraced by composer/artiste Don McLean, Meteor 17 has licensed the song American Pie for worldwide, all media, in perpetuity on all platforms.

In line with Meteor 17/Proffer’s arrangement with his colleagues at Paramount Global, the production of the feature cinematic work in the form of a documentary, which commenced airing on July 19, 2022 in the U.S. and 20 territories around the world, was at the top of the most watched music content on the Paramount streamer along with 17/Proffer production of Reinventing Elvis. Additionally the film is showing in 23 top territories around the world via the multiple Paramount+/ MTV platforms and anchored on their blue chip streaming platform, Paramount+.

In the same manner in which Universal Studios licensed the iconic title to make a series of American Pie successful films, M17 has done likewise with the song. Spencer Proffer has produced (and now highly acclaimed) the official 110 min film which gives a meaningful profile and reveal on the song itself. 50 years after American Pie was the #1 most popular song in the world, we tell the story of the composition in the cinematic narrative film in the form of a doc entitled, The Day The Music Died. Proffer’s vision is entirely in line with McLean’s. It goes to the essence of this unique and special film.

Revelation is a core theme to this work.

In TDTMD, Don reveals the meanings behind his iconic song, one of the great musical touchstones of the 20th century.

The documentary showcases this song of the century - an anthem for a generation. Our film is the definitive story of one of the 20th century's greatest musical touchstones. This cinematic celebration highlights Don McLean's epic ode to loss, love, and hope: 'American Pie'

More than just a song or a man, our film is about a cultural moment in America's history that has followed us from the 1970s and is just as relevant today. The Day The Music Died: The Story of AMERICAN PIE tells the incredible stories of the people who were part of this movement at the beginning. We hear the POV of a new generation of artists who are inspired by the same values and ideas that inspired Don McLean. Proffer and his team utilize contemporary audio/visual storytelling techniques to artistically reimagine the music we all love for a modern audience. This is the story of America. Our past. And our future.

There aren’t many songs in existence that would happily reside in the record collections of your grandmother, a metal-head, a 16-year-old SoundCloud rap fanatic and the conductor of a symphony orchestras record collection, but ‘American Pie’ is one of them. 

Simply put, it is a song of perfect order, that tells the musical equivalent of the great American novel. 

Far Out Magazine:
Many well known music artists across the globe have recorded their own interpretation of what the words to the song, American Pie, means to them. Prominent recording artists who have covered and performed the song {from Garth Brooks, John Mayer, Jon Bon Jovi, Madonna and more} as well as hot emerging artists of today, all share their nexus and love for the song as well as its’ resonance to them. 5000 people of Grand Rapids, Michigan were involved in a shutdown of the downtown area years ago, to have a community performance of the song. The streets were filled with marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and helicopter take offs. It is the largest and longest LipDub mini film, produced to date. The producers wanted to create a video which encompassed the passion and energy all felt is growing exponentially, in this special city. They felt the song "American Pie," was triumphant and filled to the brim with life and hope.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPjjZCO67WI.

A similar approach is happening with The Day The Music Died film. There are interchanges with all stripes of people from many walks of life including major celebrities, music icons, current breaking artistes, industry leaders (NARAS) and highly respected journalists. The film explores what AP meant to people then, what it means to them now, and what it will mean to generations in the future.

TDTMD was released on the 50th Anniversary of the iconic song, M17 has a perpetual license to build media upon McLean’s American Pie. We have also put together an illustrated children’s book fable which was released in over 12 territories around the world via top independent book distributor, IPG. The Fable highlights a lonely 11 year old newspaper boy whose ethos grew into inspiration, hope and love of music, which ultimately informed the writing of the classic song, American Pie.

Additionally M17 haas published an acclaimed children’s book, Americqn Pie: The Fable. The illustrations in this children’s Fable pay homage to the song, its’ characters and spirit. The book artfully weaves themes from the song with experiences from Don’s early life and, in true "American Pie" form, offers meaningful elements open to interpretation. “American Pie” is the story of a newspaper delivery boy in the late '50s who discovers the joy of friendship and music, eventually learning that when you recognize what truly makes you happy, you are never alone. https://www.meteor17.com/m17-book-division

Meteor 17’s stage division is in active development with Tony Award winning writers targeted Broadway exhibition in 2026. The stage play and will be anchored upon the Fable as well as multiple, appropriate elements from the documentary. https://www.wsj.com/articles/coronavirus-lockdown-sparks-burst-of-broadway-shows-11602334800

As an example of a definitive film based upon an iconic song #1 song, Proffer produced the acclaimed documentary on Lee Ann Womack’s #1 hit, I Hope You Dance, The Power & Inspiration of Song (https://www.meteor17.com/i-hope-you-dance), featuring Dr. Maya Angelou, Brian Wilson, Graham Nash and Vince Gill.  IHYD, the documentary, is about hope, faith, optimism and the power of music to inspire and heal. It speaks about the creation of the song as well as stories of people whose lives were impacted by the song.