Ovation's MUSIC MAVERICKS to Return 2/9

Ovation, America's only arts network, has launched season two of its original music profile series, Music Mavericks. The series looks at major figures in rock and pop music and their impact on popular culture. Using interviews, news archives, and performance footage, each 30-minute episode reveals the unique aspects of the iconic artist profiled. Music Mavericks airs weekly Sunday nights at 7 pm ET.

The lineup includes:

February 9 - George Michael. After success as one half of the pop duo Wham!, George Michael went on to solo fame with his first album Faith, which produced six, top-five singles that dominated the charts worldwide. He's one of the world's best-selling music artists, selling more than 100 million records worldwide, and he has won numerous awards throughout his 30-year career. Viewers will hear from music critics and fellow musicians how Michael's blue-eyed soul and sexy, stylized music videos won him fans around the world.

February 16 - Phil Collins. After mega success with Genesis, Collins became one of only three solo artists to sell over 100 million records. In this profile, viewers learn how the one-time stage actor became one of rock music's most famous drummers and, later, a huge hit-maker in his own rite.

February 23 - Radiohead. One of the most influential bands in the modern rock era, Radiohead has inspired bands like Coldplay, Arcade Fire and The Fray. Their experimental sound has resonated throughout the music world and in this episode, we'll see how it all started with some school kids in Oxfordshire, England.

March 2 - Beastie Boys. Formed in New York City in 1981, Beastie Boys was originally a hardcore punk band, but transitioned to hip hop in 1983 and released a string of successful songs. Billboard magazine dubbed them "the biggest-selling rap group" with seven platinum-selling records.

March 9 - Billy Joel. A hit-maker in the 70s, 80, and 90s, Joel has had a whopping 33 Top 40 hits, all of which he wrote. He's won six Grammys, sold over 150 million records worldwide and has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. In 2013, he received the Kennedy Center Honor, the nation's highest honor, for influencing American culture through the arts. This profile shows how a kid from the Bronx was influenced by the Beatles and went on to become one of the most-successful singer-songwriter-pianists of all time.

March 16 - U2. Having sold more than 150 million records worldwide, U2 is among the best-selling bands of all time. They have won 22 Grammy Awards, more than any other band, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This episode explores how four Irish "mavericks" went from humble roots in Dublin to become international superstars, as well as champions of human rights and philanthropic causes.

March 23 - Red Hot Chili Peppers. Mixing rock, funk, alternative and metal, the Chili Peppers have crossed over many musical genres to create a sound all their own. This profile looks at this LA phenomenon from the band's early days playing clubs in Los Angeles to becoming one of the best-selling bands of all time, touring and recording consistently since the early 80s.

March 30 - Pearl Jam. Often credited with founding the "grunge rock" sound, Pearl Jam formed in Seattle in 1990. The band broke into the mainstream in 1991 with their album Ten, but became equally famous for their refusal to adhere to traditional music business practices. This profile looks at how, despite their resistance to fame, they went on to sell 60 million records worldwide and is considered one of the most influential bands of the decade.

April 6 - Bon Jovi. Named for its lead singer Jon Bon Jovi, this New Jersey band formed in 1983. Bon Jovi achieved widespread recognition with the release of their third album, Slippery When Wet, and produced 13 US Top 40 hits from '86 to '95. Over the years, they have released 17 albums and performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. This profile shows how the band never lost sight of its loyal fan base and continues today to win new fans.