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WHAT IS A MUSIC VIDEO?

A music video is a short film/video, usually the length of a
song, but sometimes longer.
Generically, the video features the artist of the song.
Sometimes, the video can tell a story.
A music video needs to be visually memorable and worth
remembering.

EARLY VIDEOS

Dating back as early as the 1930s, the first examples of

what we call a music video came from Vitaphones shorts
and Spooney Melodies.

From the early 1930s up to the early 1960s, musicals were

a dominating genre in film.

The Beatles made a film titled A Hard Days Night which

was initially a mock documentary but was established as a
music video.

The main two elements of music videos are narrative and

performance.

DAVID BOWIE AND QUEEN

David Bowie released Life on Mars in 1971.

Queen released Bohemian Rhapsody in 1975.

These were too very popular music videos that set real
boundaries in the music industry.

MODERN ERA

The key development of modern music videos arose from

the recording and editing process.

Portable video cameras along with quality colour videotape

recorders and this meant more pop acts could produce
promotional videos to increase sales cheaply and a lot
quicker.

Successful music promotions/videos would see a massive

increase in record sales and would be repeatedly watched
by fans.

Michael Jackson became the first artist to make a short film

for his music video with a start, middle and an ending in
Billie Jean and also in West Side Story.

SHOWS FOR MUSIC VIDOES

As TV became more popular and affordable for the

individual, shows such as MTV and top of the pops streamed
live music 24/7.

Stars such as Madonna and Dire Straits owe a lot to shows

such as MTV for the popularisation of their music.

MTV and other popular music shows played a major part in

the success of music videos.

Michael Jackson got the help of special director John Landis

to help with his Thriller music video and Duran Duran flew to
many locations around the world to shoot their music video.
Michael Jacksons got the record of $7 million for the
Scream video.

FILM BUDGETS FOR VIDEOS?

The music industry changed dramatically and it now became

about the glamour of a music video and making each one
better than last. Massive budgets were set aside for music
videos as a promotional tool to aid artists songs.

The director of Fight Club helped make Madonnas music

video.

The internet soon caught up, websites such as Youtube and

software such as iTunes became prime sources for music,
further escalating music and videos.

Justin Bieber rose to fame through making videos on youtube.

The progress of cheap technology meant that videos could be
made for a lot less. For example, Ok Gos A Millian Ways cost
less than 30 and was shot in the singers back yard.

MUSIC VIDEOS NOW

New technologies have advance with new software and

ideas that allow the expansion of music videos.

A lot of modern music videos follow narratives associated

with heartbreak and relationships, a lot of the time the
artists are depicted in provocative ways.

Music videos are still used as a promotional tool, associating

the song/artist with the audience to keep them entertained
and interacted.