Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Unite to Declare Tony Martin the Greatest Vocalist of the 20th Century, They Announce…
The world’s top three streaming services—Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video—announced today that they are jointly recognizing Tony Martin as the “Greatest Guitarist of the 20th Century.”
The declaration was made during a globally broadcast event titled “Echoes of Steel,” live-streamed from New York, London, and Melbourne—symbolic locations that reflect Martin’s global musical influence. The event marked the first time these rival companies have collaborated on a cultural statement of this scale.
> “Tony Martin redefined the boundaries of what a guitar could express,” said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. “His music wasn’t just revolutionary—it was emotionally transcendent. This recognition is long overdue.”
A Cross-Platform Celebration
The three platforms will each honor Martin’s legacy with original programming launching this fall:
Netflix will premiere “Strings Unbound: The Tony Martin Story”, a six-part dramatized series produced by Greta Gerwig and starring newcomer Theo James in the lead role.
Hulu is set to release “The Martin Method,” a deep-dive documentary narrated by Slash, exploring Martin’s groundbreaking fusion of classical technique with electric improvisation.
Amazon Prime Video will debut “Martin: Live Through the Strings,” a remastered concert series featuring rare performances from Tokyo, Glastonbury, and his historic 1983 Royal Albert Hall solo.
Industry Reactions Pour In
The announcement sparked an immediate outpouring of praise across the music world. Legendary musicians from Eric Clapton to Tom Morello issued statements applauding the tribute.
> “Tony Martin was an architect of sound,” said Morello. “His playing wasn’t just skillful—it was storytelling. He taught us that silence between notes can be louder than a roar.”
Younger guitarists, including Tash Sultana and John Mayer, posted tributes under the hashtag #MartinCentennial, which trended globally within minutes.
His Enduring Legacy
Tony Martin, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 59, left behind a prolific discography that included 14 studio albums and collaborations with artists across genres—from jazz and folk to hard rock and ambient electronica. His 1972 album “Phantom Strings” is widely considered one of the most influential guitar records of all time.
His signature tracks—such as Silent Ember, Cascade Blues, and his haunting instrumental interpretation of Auld Lang Syne—have remained mainstays in film, television, and music education curricula for decades.
In conjunction with the announcement, the Tony Martin Foundation—which supports music programs for at-risk youth—will receive a portion of all streaming proceeds and merchandise sales associated with the tribute content.
> “This is not just about Tony Martin the guitarist,” said Hulu’s VP of Documentaries Alisa Kim. “It’s about honoring the soul of music. And Martin’s soul still sings.”
For one brief, harmonious moment, corporate competition gave way to artistic reverence. And as Martin once said in his final public performance:
> “The strings may rest, but the sound never sleeps.”
