The purpose of music videos

1. The purpose of music videos By George Bishop

2. What is a music video? • A music video is basically a short promotional film that accompanies a music track by a recording artist/band. • It nearly always includes the band playing in front of the camera; though not always as some videos such as ones made by Fatboy Slim don’t contain the artist and have nothing to do with the lyrics.

3. Why do we have music videos? • It extends the income for the market label by getting paid the same amount of money for each video (repeat fees). • It’s an extension of outlets to exhibit an artist. • The distributers get paid for fans legally downloading their videos. Music videos are also available on DVD box sets.

4. Why else do we have music videos? • It’s an easier way of showing music as part of TV programs. • The video can be more famous than the song e.g. Fatboy Slim-Weapon of Choice.

5. Band Appearances • The identity/style of the bands links with the target audience. • The type of music and the clothes that bands wear interlocks with teenage subculture e.g. setting, social class etc. • Whenever you see what someone is wearing, you can sometimes tell what sort of music they’re in e.g. most people who wear mostly black are into a lot of rock music.

6. Internet • A music video can have many hits on websites such as YouTube. • As of 2011, the most watched video on YouTube is unfortunately Baby by Justin Bieber.

7. Expansion of outlets to exhibit artists • In 1981, the first 24 hour music video called MTV was launched in the USA. • Ever since MTV launched, many other music videos came to our screens such as VH1, Kerrang, and Smash Hits. • Between 1964 and 2006, the BBC broadcast a music show called Top of the Pops. Before music videos were popular, Top of the Pops used to hire a group of attractive female dancers to dance to the songs played on the show.