CNN and Universal Music Group are teaming up on a music docuseries that will be hosted by comedian, actor, and musician Fred Armisen, known for his work on Saturday Night Live.
The untitled CNN Original Series is set to premiere later this year on the CNN app as part of the network’s 2026 originals lineup. The show will give fans behind-the-scenes look into UMG’s vaults, touted as “the world’s largest music archives,” according to a press release on Saturday (January 31).
The UMG vault spans decades of recorded music history and sits, quite literally, deep underground. The highly secure vault lies within the Iron Mountain facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania, where UMG stores a portion of its catalog 220 feet underground in a former limestone mine.
Armisen and the production team will sift through original recordings, master tapes, rare photos and performances, alternative album art and music videos, including those that have never been made public.
“This series opens the doors to one of the most extraordinary music archives in the world, and Fred Armisen is the perfect guide.”
Amy Entelis, CNN
Amy Entelis, Executive Vice President of Talent, CNN Originals and creative development for CNN Worldwide, said: “This series opens the doors to one of the most extraordinary music archives in the world, and Fred Armisen is the perfect guide.
“His deep connection to music and natural sense of wonder allow viewers a chance to experience music history up close, discovering the unexpected stories behind some of the most iconic sounds ever created.”
Will Tanous, EVP and Chief Administrative Officer at Universal Music Group, and Executive Producer added: “This series was born from a desire to show fans what it’s like to mine the greatest underground musical archive in the world – giving them a sense of the hunt, the challenge, the thrill of this work – as well as direct access to the dedicated experts who preserve and champion these incredible musical legacies.
“Fred’s singular blend of humor, fandom, and musical talent make him the ideal storyteller to reveal the intimate era-defining moments and unheard gems that form the foundation of popular culture.”
“This series was born from a desire to show fans what it’s like to mine the greatest underground musical archive in the world – giving them a sense of the hunt, the challenge, the thrill of this work – as well as direct access to the dedicated experts who preserve and champion these incredible musical legacies.”
Will Tanous, Universal Music Group
Polygram Entertainment, UMG’s film and television division, is producing the series alongside Time Studios and Known Originals.
The executive producer roster includes Armisen himself, Tanous, Entelis and filmmaker Doug Pray. Nicole Avant and Brad Roth will also serve as producers, while the co-producers include Bruce Resnikoff and Madeline Post for UMG. Ted Skillman is also involved as executive producer and show runner.
For CNN, the project marks its latest music-focused production following the Grammy-nominated Little Richard: I Am Everything. The CNN Originals group develops, produces and acquires original, long-form unscripted programming for CNN Worldwide. The team, led by Amy Entelis, has overseen and executive produced more than 50 multi-part documentary series and 70 feature-length documentary films since 2012.
Meanwhile, UMG via Polygram has released a number of documentary projects in recent years including Stax: Soulsville U.S.A., an Emmy-nominated docuseries that chronicles the history of Memphis record company Stax Records; the 2024 multi-part series James Brown: Say It Loud, which explored the life of American musician James Brown; and Love to Love You, Donna Summer, released in 2023, which explores never-before-seen home video footage and interviews with the artist’s friends, family and colleagues.
Music Business Worldwide
