CNN Films has secured rights to the music documentary Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over and will debut it on upstart streaming service CNN Plus when it launches this spring.

The documentary chronicles the life of the iconic R&B singer, from singing in her grandfather's church to her rise to music superstardom, to standing up to discrimination in America and across the world, according to the company. 

“There have been many words to describe Dionne Warwick, however, for me, it comes down to one word: ‘genius,’”  said Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over director/executive producer Dave Wooley, in a statement. "Her extraordinary voice is a gift that she uses for her art, and always also as an instrument for creating positive change, compassion, and social justice, wherever she is.” 

Also: Now What for CNN Plus Amid Jeff Zucker's Hasty Departure? 

R&B singer Bobby Brown will be the subject of two A&E-based programming events debuting in May.

Brown, a member of the musical group New Edition and ex-husband of the late Whitney Houston, will be chronicled in a two-night, A&E documentary series Biography: Bobby Brown, debuting May 30. The documentary will offer an up-close and personal look at Brown’s journey to stardom and the fallout from his personal struggles with sobriety and the tragic deaths of Houston and two of his children, A&E said. 

Biography: Bobby Brown will feature interviews with such music personalities as Usher, Jermaine Dupri, Keith Sweat, Babyface and New Edition’s Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe and Johnny Gill, as well as his family and  friends, according to the network.

On May 31, A&E will debut Bobby Brown: Every Little Step, a 12-part docuseries which will follow Brown as he focuses on new business ventures while performing with New Edition during the group’s 2022 reunion tour, said A&E representatives.

Brown was the subject of 2005 Bravo reality series Being Bobby Brown, as well as a 2018 BET scripted movie, The Bobby Brown Story. ■ 

Netflix on Nov. 20 will premiere a new animated series, Motown Magic, which looks to introduce iconic songs from the Detroit-based R&B music company to a new generation viewers.

The series, which follows a young boy who uses is magic paintbrush to bring to life the street art decorating his city, will feature classic Motown hits in each episode to help inform the story line.

Emmy-winning producer Josh Wakely, who created Netflix’s animated series Beat Bugs – inspired by the music of the Beatles -- serves as creator and executive producer of Motown Magic, with Motown legend Smokey Robinson serving as executive music producer.

I recently spoke to Wakely about the origins of Motown Magic along with his mission to keep classic songs alive for future generations. An edited version of the interview appears below.

What was the appeal for you of creating an animated, kids-targeted series around the Motown library of songs?

Motown has always held a special place for me as it has for the world. When I was eight years old Stevie Wonder came to Australia, and my mom took me to his concert. I remember it being the most celestial and amazing music ever, and I’ve never really changed that point of view. Even before I did the show Beat Bugs on Netflix I wanted to do something around the Motown catalog. I was convinced it was the most extraordinary music formed for families because it was melodically engaging enough for the children’s mind, but also had some often-challenging social messages.

How do you translate the Motown sound to a new generation of viewers who may not ever heard of Motown?

I think 100 years from now people will still be talking about the fact that [Motown] made that many number ones in a fairly condensed period of time, and the architecture of the songs are so advanced. I think this is my small part in imparting that to a younger generation. The music is still perfect, so we’re doing [Motown Magic] to make it more accessible to a modern era. We have the latest animation techniques and technologies, so I thought the alchemy of bringing this timeless music from the 60’s with cutting edge animation would be a good combination for viewers. Everybody knows that Motown music is good, but I don’t think they realize that in 100 years a Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder or Smokey Robinson song is going to sound just as amazing as it did in the 1960s. Each episode uses the narrative of an iconic Motown song, which serves as the platform and inspiration for the story.

What role does Smokey Robinson play in the development of the series, and how was it to work with him on the project?

Working with him was the best thing ever! There would be days when we were working on the show, and Smokey would turn to me and say “how do you want to chart this song?’ In what world does Smokey Robinson ask me that question? He was a great collaborator – I wouldn’t have done it unless I had his blessing. I gave him the first couple of scripts and he really loved it.

Along with Motown Magic, Beat Bugs returned to Netflix this month for its third season. Are you surprised by the success of that show?

I was relieved by it (laughs). After three years of securing the rights and three years of working on it I was glad to see it launch. I remember 48 hours before it came out it suddenly occurred to me that it might not be a success, but now that it has had some success it's not my show anymore; it's the audience’s show. To see people talking about it; to see people dressing up as the characters for Halloween; to see toys based on the show in stores; and to see the live shows is both energizing and exciting. With Beat Bugs and with Motown Magic I owe a lot to the fact that the music [in the shows] is some of the best music of all time, and that people want that in their lives.

BET’s The New Edition Story hit the right notes with viewers, averaging 4.2 million viewers in its Thursday night finale on the network and averaging over 4 million viewers for its three-night run.

The finale of the six-hour miniseries, which followed the lives of the members of the classic R&B group New Edition, matched the 4.2 million viewers that tuned into the Tuesday night’s series opener. Wednesday night’s episode two averaged 3.9 viewers, according to Nielsen.

The series also dominated social media, averaging the most social media interactions on television during its three-night run. Last night’s episode drew 2.3 million Facebook and Twitter posts from 975,000 unique accounts, according to Nielsen.

Lifetime’s original movie Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B garnered 3.2 million viewers in its Saturday night debut, the network said Monday.

The movie, which chronicled the life and death of 1990s R&B music singer Aaliyah Haughton, also drew 1.7 million adult 18-49 viewers and 1.6 million adult 25-54 viewers. In addition, the movie also generated 1.3 million women 18-49 and 1.2 million viewers in the network’s targeted female 25-54 demo.

 Among Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49, Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B ranks as this year’s second most watched movie telecast on cable, behind Lifetime’s Flowers in the Attic.

Immediately following Saturday’s movie premiere, the network’s one-hour documentary Beyond the Headlines: Aaliyah delivered 2.7 million Total Viewers, 1.4 million Adults 18-49 viewers, 1.3 million Adults 25-54 viewers, 1.1 million Women 18-49 viewers and 1.0 million Women 25-54 viewers.

TV One will return its docu-music series Unsung on July 30 with 10 new episodes, according to network officials.

The series, which profiles R&B stars that were stars but never received superstar status, will feature in its upcoming new episodes such performers as Montell Jordon, Hi Five, The Emotions, Martha Wash, Troop, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Wilson Pickett, The Chi-Lites, Peaches & Herb and Rick James, said network officials.

“As an intimate portrait of the lives of some of music’s most captivating artist, Unsung remains a celebration of their impact on both the recording industry and culture alike,” said D’Angela Proctor, senior vice president of Programming and Production for TV One.  “By illuminating the stories of trials and triumphs in the upcoming slate, the legend of these iconic musicians will be sure to grow within the hearts and memories of our audience.”