What Is a Music Map? A Unique Way to Explore Bands, Albums and Musical History
Mike BellWhat Is a Music Map?
A music map is a visual way of exploring the journey of a band, artist, album or musical genre. Unlike a traditional timeline or discography list, a music map transforms a band’s recording history into something graphic, detailed, and immersive—like a London Underground-style map, where each musician becomes a line and each album becomes a stop along the way.
As a show designer and data visualisation artist, I’ve created dozens of music maps that combine a band’s entire studio history, showing when albums were released and who played on them, how line-ups evolved, and what connections run beneath the surface.
Why I Started Creating Music Maps
The first music map I ever made was during lockdown. With live events paused, I took my background in stage design and my passion for music and started mapping The Beatles’ studio recordings as if they were a transit system. Each Beatle became a coloured line, each album a station, and the intersections revealed incredible stories—about collaborations, changes in sound, and how the band evolved.
Since then, I’ve created maps for artists like:
- David Bowie
- The Smiths
- Fleetwood Mac
- Pink Floyd
- Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
Each is meticulously researched and beautifully designed to turn a band’s musical output into a visual journey.
What Makes a Music Map Different from a Poster or Timeline?
A good music map goes beyond listing facts. It tells a story visually:
- You can follow a single musician’s career through changing albums and band configurations.
- You can see every album laid out chronologically, with recording years and line-up changes built in.
- You can discover hidden connections—like when a guest artist appears only once, or when a band splinters into multiple side projects.
Unlike a poster or flat infographic, a music map is interactive in how you read it. You can trace paths, compare players, and freshly revisit moments in music history.
How Music Maps Are Made
Every map I make starts with data—albums, musicians, dates, and credits. From there, I lay out the structure visually, using colour-coded lines for each artist or band member and placing albums as clearly labelled stations. Where lines cross, you’ll find collaborations or transitions.
- A station = a studio album
- A line = an individual musician or key contributor
- Intersections = moments of collaboration or key turning points
It’s all printed on heavyweight archival art paper in bold, crisp detail—and available as wall art, greeting cards, and even jigsaws.
Popular Music Maps in My Collection
If you’re new to the world of music maps, here are a few great starting points:
The Beatles Music Map
Explore all their studio albums, from Please Please Me to Let It Be, with every Beatle mapped as a coloured line.
Fleetwood Mac Music Map
A complex journey through decades of shifting line-ups, with over 20 musicians involved—ideal for fans of both the bluesy early days and the Buckingham-Nicks era.
David Bowie Music Map
Track Bowie’s evolution album-by-album, from Space Oddity to Blackstar, including key collaborators like Mick Ronson, Brian Eno and Carlos Alomar.
Explore All Music Maps in the Collection
Who Are Music Maps For?
A music map makes a perfect gift for:
- Dedicated music fans
- Musicians and band members
- Vinyl collectors and audiophiles
- Art lovers who want something unique and story-driven
- People looking for unusual music-themed gifts
They also make great centrepieces for listening rooms, studio spaces, home offices and record shops.
Why Music Maps Resonate So Strongly
In a world dominated by digital streaming and algorithms, physical music maps offer something rare: a tactile, visual way to reconnect with music history. They encourage deep listening, spark conversation, and provide new perspectives on the bands you love.
Want a Music Map of Your Favourite Band?
I’m constantly expanding my collection and also take suggestions for new music maps. You can explore the full range of existing works or commission something more bespoke.
In Summary
A music map is more than just wall art—it’s a data-driven, design-rich journey through the soundscape of a band’s history. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to an artist’s discography, music maps offer a different way to engage with the music you love.
