History and Developments of Music Videos

What is a music video?

Music videos are created and produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Most modern music videos are made as a marketing device to help to promote the sale of music recordings. Music videos became most popular in the 1980’s when MTV was created and based its company on showing music videos. Before the 80’s, music videos were referred to as “illustrated song” or a “promotional film”. Music videos can be made in a variety of different styles using a mixture of techniques such as animation, live action filming, non-narrative and abstract.

MTV

MTV is an American network based in New York City that was launched on August 1^st, 1981. The original purpose of MTV was to be “Music Television” showing music videos 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, guided by on-air personalities known as VJ’s (Video Jockeys). MTV had a huge impact on the music industry and popular culture, the idea of a dedicated video-based outlet for music was introduced and both artists and fans found a central location for music events, news and promotion.  MTV have faced criticisms for the moral influence they have on young people, including issues related to censorship and social activism.

Technological Developments

When MTV was launched in 1981, the first music video shown was The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star”. The second video shown was Pat Benatar “You Better Run”. Between these two videos, the screen would go black when an employee at MTV inserted a tape into a VCR.

The main purpose of MTV when it was first launched was to play music videos 24/7, but throughout the early-mid 2000’s, the overall play of music videos was greatly reduced. And in 2008, an average of just three hours of music videos per day was played on MTV. This is blamed on the rise of the Internet as a convenient outlet for the promotion and viewing of music videos.

YouTube is a video sharing website created in 2005 that allows users to upload, share and view videos. Many music videos are now uploaded onto this site allowing more people to view the video as many times as they want whenever they want. This has meant that the viewing of music video channels has reduced rapidly.

Affordable and faster equipment has also made a huge influence on the music video industry. Cheaper laptops, software and filming equipment has allowed upcoming and aspiring singers, song writers and film makers to create there music video to a high standard to show off their skills. YouTube and similar social networking sites have allowed these people to share their music videos with the public including people high up within the music industry looking for creative and talented individuals.