The High Note is a 2020 musical comedy-drama directed by Nisha Ganatra and written by Flora Greeson. It stars Tracee Ellis Ross as Grace Davis, a diva-ish superstar who has reigned over the music industry for more than two decades but finds herself struggling to stay relevant in the age of streaming. Dakota Johnson plays Maggie, her personal assistant who has a secret ambition of being a music producer but has been stuck in her current job for years.
Maggie meets a talented musician named David Cliff (played by Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and decides to take a risk by producing his music behind Grace's back. Meanwhile, Grace is under pressure from her manager Jack Robertson (played by Ice Cube) who wants her to go on a reunion tour with her former bandmates instead of making a new album. While Maggie tries to juggle her secret project and her demanding job, Grace becomes increasingly frustrated with the state of her career and her lack of creative control.
As the two women navigate their respective challenges, they begin to form a bond that goes beyond their professional relationship. Maggie comes to realize that her dream of producing music is not as far-fetched as she thought and Grace learns to trust her own instincts and take risks. Eventually, they come up with a plan to release David's music and Grace's new album independently, challenging the traditional model of the music industry.
The High Note features original music produced by Rodney Jerkins and features covers of classic songs performed by Ross, including "Love Is a Battlefield" and "Stop in the Name of Love." The film was praised for its performances, soundtrack, and nuanced portrayal of the music industry, although some critics found the plot formulaic.