History of music videos

A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a piece of music/song. Music videos are used to promote singers and bands. It is also for voyeuristic pleasure for the audience. The forms of music videos are usually abstract, performance based or they have a narrative. The term 'music video' first came into popular usage in early 1980's. 

Spooney Melodies, produced by Warner Brothers between 1926 and 1931, was arguably the first musical video short film series. They were usually about six minutes long and had footage of the performer singing and art animation.

Queen's ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is considered the first real music video, in the sense that it was directed and edited for that purpose. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was made in 1975 and spent nine weeks at number one. £5000 was spent on the video which was a lot at the time. The music video consisted of low angles of the band which connotes they are big and dominant rock stars. The special effects weren’t part of the editing but were actually done whilst recording.

In the 1920’s and 1930’s music was shown like a short film. Musical films acted like music videos back in the 1930’s to 1950’s. There have been some well-known music videos which have imitated the style of classic Hollywood musicals such as Madonna’s 1985 video ‘Material Girl’ which was similar to ‘Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best friend’ from the film ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’. In the 1940’s and 1950’s music became section in narrative film. Rock and Roll stars such as Elvis Presley dominated the music industry. Singers such as Elvis Presley and The Beatles made films to promote themselves. For example in 1964 The Beatles were in ‘Hard Day’s Night’ Dir. Dick Lester where they played themselves to promote the band and their music. Audiences were unable to see bands tour as the bands didn’t go to certain countries. For example Elvis Presley never came to the UK. The films allowed audiences to see their favourite singers perform. In ‘Hard Day’s Night’ The Beatles are trying to show audiences what their lives are like. In the sixties when rock n roll finished it went back to manufactured singers where song writers and managers would control them. In the 1960’s the band The Animals, song ‘House of the Rising Son’ a short promotional film was made where it featured The Animals lip-synched performance, portrayed through an edited sequence of tracking shots and close ups. 

In 1965 Bob Dylan was in a short promotional film ‘Don’t Look Back’ Dir. D.A.Pennebaker it was shot in black and white. It wanted audiences to understand the lyrics as it challenged authority and questioned values from before. 

Throughout late 1960's to 1970's promotional videos grew dramatically in importance of distribution of music worldwide. In 1974–1980 music television started to begin. In the late 1970's Top of The Pops started to show music videos on air, however the BBC limited the number of videos they could show each week to increase song sales as the viewer would hope to see the video which they liked the next week. In 1978 the music television show ‘Video Concert Hall’ was the first programme showing music videos in the US. Music television shows allowed audiences to watch their favourite artists perform without having to see them on tour.

In the 1980’s music videos became more important than the singer as more interesting narratives formed. For example in 1982 the band Wham’s song ‘Club Tropicana’ the music video gives an aspiration quality to audiences. The music video makes audiences wish they lived like that. Another example is ‘Sledgehammer’ by Peter Gabriel. The lyrics are interpreted via the mise en scene. The use of special effects also makes the video more appealing and memorable. In 1983, the most successful music video of all time was released which was Michael Jackson’s song ‘Thriller’. The music video was nearly 14 minutes long and cost $500,000 to film.

In 1981, the US channel MTV launched.  Music videos became mainstream when MTV launched the first 24-hour music channel.  By the mid 1980's this became a main part of music marketing. The first music video ever played on MTV was 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles. MTV allowed audiences to watch their favourite artists in their own home. MTV itself now provides streams of artists' music videos on the Internet and has become the primary growth income market for record company-produced music videos. In 2005 the website ‘YouTube’ was launched. This allowed audiences to watch music videos faster and easier. By posting their music on YouTube some artists gained fame e.g. Jessie J and Justin Beiber which showed it was great for promotion. MTV launched other music channels such as VH1 in 1985 which featured softer music aimed at older audiences.

Distribution of music videos changed again because of the creation of VHS in the late 1980's/ early 1990's because audiences could buy a music video and watch it in their own homes. In 1992 MTV began listing directors with the artists. In the mid 1990’s Madonna’s ‘Vogue’ music video became a hit. Because of the music video the ‘vogue’ dance Madonna performed became famous. An example of narcissism is portrayed as Madonna is displaying herself in a stylish and sexy way. In 2000 director Spike Jonze directed Fatboy Slim’s song ‘Weapon of Choice’. Fatboy Slim doesn’t appear in his own music videos but instead in ‘Weapon of Choice’ Hollywood actor Christopher Walken does. He performs in the music video by dancing which is unusual for audiences to see as he plays gangster type characters in his films. Having an actor be in the video increased the promotion.   

There are all different ways of watching music videos nowadays such as the internet via Youtube or MySpace, the television or even on DVD. Music videos have always been made to promote artists.