Michael Murphy started his first production company in 1987, Pelican Pictures that created long form music programming, corporate pieces and commercials. He left and founded Michael Murphy Productions (MMP), a multi-media producing company in 1991. Award winning Producer, Director, Michael Murphy has created and produced programming that has been broadcast by media companies such as: A&E, ABC, BBC, BET, BRAVO, CBS, FOX, MSN Music, NHK, PBS, RAI, TRIO DIGITAL, TBS, VH1, and ZDF.
In the fall of 1992, MMP was hired by the House of Blues to create a production division, produce programming and work with the other HOB divisions – live entertainment, internet, marketing and retail to imprint the House of Blues brand. As President of House Of Blues Productions, Michael, created and produced specials from the openings of the Cambridge, New Orleans, Los Angeles and Chicago House of Blues clubs, as well as supervised and co-produced outside productions. Michael created & produced the "Live From The House of Blues" television series, which aired on TBS, with an accompanying radio series. In 1996, MMP produced a 20 part music series from the Olympics in Atlanta, resulting in a 90 minute special for VH1, daily live international satellite broadcasts, television programming and content for the Internet, Home Videos, and DVD’s.
MMP began shooting in High Definition in 1992, producing a multi camera, multi location special on Mardi Gras in New Orleans. This was followed in 1994 with a ten-hour music special from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. In 2000, MMP brought High Definition back to Jazz Fest, taping 30 bands. This was followed in 2001 with the HD theatrical and DVD release of *NSYNC: THE POPODYSSEY, and in 2003 with a PBS Christmas Special with The Blind Boys Of Alabama. In 2005, MMP released the critically acclaimed “Make It Funky!” a feature length high definition documentary on the city’s musical and cultural legacy.
MMP has produced programming from the renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for over 16 years. Programs have featured rock, world, gospel, jazz, zydeco & cajun music, and have been seen on ABC In Concert, NHK, PBS, VH1!, Trio Digital Network & ZDF; a DVD series for Shout! Factory, and audio programs for BluesStage, SoNet & BBC2 Radio. In 2006, MMP produced a 2 day, 10 hour webcast for MSN Music from the New Orleans Jazz Fest – a celebration of New Orleans come back after Hurricane Katrina.
MMP has produced webcasts for companies in the US and in Japan, including New Orleans Jazz Fest webcasts with Riffage, SoNet, and MSN Music. They have also worked with MSN music to webcast a benefit for New Orleans at House of Blues, Los Angeles, and from the 2006 Sasquatch Music Fest in the Gorge in George, WA, and the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, R.I.
Other documentaries produced by MMP include two "Legends of New Orleans” programs for PBS and DVD, the 1st on Allen Toussaint, Dr. John & The Neville Brothers" & the 2nd on Fats Domino; "Dancing To New Orleans" for Bravo Network; and “Clarence John Laughlin, An Artist with a Camera,” which will be available in 2006.
In 2006, MMP began releasing true HD DVD’s in conjunction with Concert Hot Spot and Warners. The first is “The New Orleans Concert.” He is also currently working with MSN Video to guide their video production and develop content. His first project is to oversee Live Earth for MSN which takes place in July 2006. He is responsible for being liaison with Control Room for MSN and to develop and create documentaries, and short programming on the issues of global warming for the event.