The beginnings of television – from the 78 RPM record to the 33 RPM long play.
As its name indicates, this BBC service produces music intended for radio as part of the concept known as Experimental Drama. Then, starting in the 1960s, it moves to television. Composers such as Daphne Oram, Ron Grainer, and Delia Derbyshire contribute, and their work is now being rediscovered by musicians in the electronic scene. The BBC Radiophonic Workshop ceased its activities in 1998 but has since been revived in partnership between the BBC and the Arts Council of England.
The theme music for the famous series “Dr. Who“, composed by Ron Grainer, remains the hallmark of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Despite the advancements in television and the growing demand for music for radio and film, the decade is characterized in the United States and Europe by a scattering of numerous small companies primarily created by composers. Alongside the already mentioned pioneering companies, we can cite the American company “MUTEL” (Music for Television), founded by David Chudnow.
However, the most significant event of the decade is the creation in 1959, still in the UK, of KPM, which stands for Keith-Prowse-Maurice. After its acquisition by the EMI Group in 1969, KPM becomes the benchmark for production music in the following years, thanks to the professionalism of its leaders, initially Robin Phillips and later Peter Cox, as well as its composers. The EMI Group, also the owner of the famous Abbey Road Studios, produces many KPM recordings with the greatest orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra. In 1997, KPM acquires Music House, another company created by Robin Phillips. KPM was integrated into Sony Music in 2012 after acquiring the EMI Publishing Group. KPM publishes composers such as Brian Bennett, drummer for the Shadows, Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield, Dick Dale, and many other musicians who have established KPM as a leading name in the industry.