Jean-Michel Jarre Announces 'Machines: A History of Electronic Music,' His First Ever Book Set For Release Nov 24 via Thames & Hudson USA

JEAN-MICHEL JARRE ANNOUNCES HIS FIRST-EVER BOOK MACHINES: A HISTORY OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC A RICH, DETAILED EXPLORATION OF THE GENRE FROM THE EYES OF ONE OF ITS DEFINING VISIONARIES OUT NOVEMBER 24, 2026 DISTRIBUTED BY THAMES & HUDSON PRE-ORDER HERE

With layer upon layer of rich content, Machines: A History of Electronic Music is a spectacular exploration of electronic music’s past, present, and future — seen through the eyes of one of its defining visionaries. Jean-Michel Jarre is a true pioneer of electronic music, and this book invites readers into his formidable archive—one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of electronic and electro-acoustic instruments. Through these machines, Jarre traces the evolution of a century of sonic experimentation, underscoring the ideas, technologies and cultural movements that shaped electronic music as we know it today. Featuring 130 curated, specially photographed examples—from iconic modular synthesizers to rare prototypes and bespoke one-offs—Machines: A History of Electronic Music set for release November 24, 2026 maps the trajectory of Jarre’s prolific career alongside each technological progression. Pre-order for the book is now live at: https://www.thamesandhudsonusa.com/books/machines-a-history-of-electronic-music-by-jean-michel-jarre-hardcover  Machines: A History of Electronic Music features contributions from Armin van Buuren (DJ/Producer), Vince Clarke (Erasure/Yazoo/Depeche Mode), Gillian Gilbert (New Order), Nicolas Godin (Air), Richie Hawtin (Plastikman), Johnny Marr (The Smiths/The The/Electronic), Gary Numan, Benjamin John Power (Fuck Buttons/Editors/Blanck Mass) and Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran). Beginning with Luigi Russolo’s 1913 Futurist manifesto The Art of Noises, the book journeys through Surrealism and the Bauhaus, into avant-garde radio laboratories, and inside pioneering studios, including Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Radio France, and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Along the way, Jarre charts the creative and technological breakthroughs that transformed modern music—from tape manipulation and analogue synthesis to the digital revolution, 3D recording, immersive multimedia, and AI-assisted performance. At once lively, insightful, and deeply personal, Machines is the account of an artist whose life and work are inseparable from the history of electronic music itself. Jarre reflects on his childhood fascination with reel-to-reel tape machines and his studies in Paris under Pierre Schaeffer at the Groupe de Recherches Musicales. Personal anecdotes and expert commentary are interwoven with rare archival material, technical schematics, recreations of sonic experiments, and sequenced stills from legendary live performances. Machines will be available November 24, 2026.  368 pp 400 illustrations $65.00 hardcover ISBN: 9780500031506 Pre-order

About Jean-Michel Jarre:  Jean-Michel Jarre is one of the defining pioneers of electronic music and a visionary artist whose work has continually explored the relationship between sound, technology, and the future. Across more than five decades, the composer, performer, and producer has pushed at the boundaries of musical creation, using each new technological wave not simply as a tool, but as a creative language in itself. From his early experiments with analogue synthesizers and tape manipulation to his groundbreaking use of multi-channel sound, spatial audio, virtual reality, and immersive digital environments, Jarre has consistently anticipated the next frontiers in cultural endeavors. Long before terms such as immersive audio, virtual performance, and AI-driven creativity entered the mainstream, he was reimagining how music could be composed, experienced, and shared. His landmark 1976 album Oxygène helped transform electronic music from avant-garde experimentation into a global cultural force, influencing generations of artists across genres from electronic and pop to ambient and experimental music. Since then, Jarre’s catalogue has grown to more than twenty studio albums, selling over 85 million copies worldwide, while his live work has redefined the scale and ambition of music performance. Renowned for monumental concert events staged at some of the world’s most iconic landmarks, Jarre has used cities, architecture, and landscapes as part of his artistic canvas, merging music with light, design, and technological innovation. His performances at sites including the Eiffel Tower, Moscow, the Great Pyramids of Giza, Forbidden City, and the Dead Sea have attracted vast audiences and set multiple Guinness World Records, establishing him as one of the first artists to fully conceive live performance as an immersive multimedia experience. Recently he headlined the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony and also played at the famous Coachella Festival and historic sites such as Pompeii. Throughout his career, Jarre has remained deeply engaged with the future of sound and image: from his early studies at Pierre Schaeffer’s Groupe de Recherches Musicales in Paris to his recent work with AI, spatial audio, VR, and metaverse performance. His practice has consistently been driven by the belief that technology is not the opposite of emotion or artistic expression, but a means of expanding it. A UNESCO Ambassador for Education, Science, and Culture, Jarre is also an internationally respected voice on cultural innovation, artists’ rights, and the responsible evolution of creative technologies. In 2026/2027 the 50th anniversary of his groundbreaking album Oxygène will mark not only a milestone in his own career, but also the enduring legacy of a work that changed the course of modern music. Connect with Jean-Michel Jarre Instagram | TikTok | Web | Apple | Spotify Connect with Thames & Hudson USA Instagram | Web