Music Videos Introduction to TV Production

1960’s 1964; The Beatles created the first Motion Picture music video ‘A Hard Days Night’ which then lead the way to many music videos years later. 1965: The Beatles taped 10 black and white films which are used to promote their album releases. This is the beginning of artists using video to promote their new songs using video.

The proliferation of music video came in the 1980s, when MTV (Music Television)'s format was based around them. The first video show in 1981 was… Buggles - Video Killed The Radio Star 1980’s

1981; The Music Video ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ by The Buggles aired on MTV and was the first music video to be shown on television. 24 hour broadcasting also meant that music videos played a central role in music marketing. 1983; The most successful and influential music video, ‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson was released. 1984; This was the first year of the ‘Video Music Awards’ and popular bands, musicians and artists gathered together as the awards were presented by MTV. It was here that Madonna performed her famous hit, ‘Like a Virgin’. 1985; MTV launches VH1, which was designed for older viewers who listen to softer music.

Although the origins go back much further to music television programs like Top of the Pops (UK), Ready Steady Go (UK), American Bandstand (US) and Musikladen (D). The Beatles – All You Need is Love TOTP Dusty Springfield – You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me TOTP 1960’s-1970’s

By the 1990s many hundreds of videos, representing a cross-section of musical forms were being produced yearly. Genres include traditional to Country and Western, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Hip Hop, r+b, Adult Orientated Rock, Teen Pop etc. Guns n Roses - November Rain Kris Kross - JumpGuns n Roses - November RainKris Kross - Jump 1990’s

1995; Stars Michael & Janet Jackson’s song ‘Scream’ is listed as the most expensive music video of all time as it cost $7 million to produce.

2000’s 2002; Music Video producers introduce creating the music videos into a DVD to sell their music on, which raises Music Video viewings by 33% 2005; iTunes is created and the doors for listening, viewing and downloading music videos are opened. It was only 20 days after iTunes had been selling music videos that over 1 million songs were downloaded. YouTube was also created and new artists could see a rise in popularity through the use of YouTube on the internet. 2010; Lady Gaga is the first to reach 1 billion views on a music video as her popularity grows.

Internet sites like have enabled unsigned bands like the Arctic Monkeys to find mainstream success in part by providing an outlet for new music videos. Arctic Monkeys Today

You Tube is a forum for online bands to show DIY video footage. The Foo Fighters – Live in Norway on Mobile Phone Today

From an institutional perspective audience/user generated content has transformed the forms and conventions of music video introducing a more DIY aesthetic. Has the music video come full circle? OK Go – Here It Goes Again Arcade Fire – We Used to Wait Today

Music videos can be characterized by three broad typologies: Performance, Narrative, and Conceptual (Firth, 1988) These types describe the form and content selected by the director or artist to attract viewers and to convey a direct or indirect message. They can act as extended advertisements, as popular art forms or as self-referential filmic texts (e.g Madonna videos) Music videos can be characterized by three broad typologies: Performance, Narrative, and Conceptual These types describe the form and content selected by the director or artist to attract viewers and to convey a direct or indirect message. They can act as extended advertisements, as popular art forms or as small films.

1.Performance videos The most common type feature the star or group singing in concert to wildly enthusiastic fans. The goal is to convey a sense of the in-concert experience. The predominance of performance indicates that music video defines itself chiefly by images of artists singing and playing songs. songs Alicia Keys “Empire State of Mind Part II”

Performance videos Performance videos, especially those that display the star or group in the studio, remind the viewer that the soundtrack is still important. "Performance oriented visuals cue viewers that the recording of the music is the most significant element."

2. Narrative videos Presents a sequence of events. A video may tell any kind of story in linear, cause-effect sequencing. Love stories, however, are the most common narrative mode in music video. The narrative pattern is one of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back. Action in the story is dominated by males who do things and females who passively react or wait for something to happen. happen Lady Gaga – “Paparazzi”

3. Conceptual videos Rely on poetic form, primarily metaphor. Conceptual videos do not tell a story in linear fashion, but rather create a mood, a feeling to be evoked in the experience of viewing. Conceptual videos contain the possibility for multiple meanings as the metaphor is interpreted by the viewer. Madonna – “Bedtime Story”

Editing Techniques Cutting to the Beat Cutting to the Beat Visual Effects (Madonna “Frozen”) Visual Effects (Madonna “Frozen”) Lip Syncing Lip Syncing Camera Movements match the mood and pace of the music Camera Movements match the mood and pace of the music Shots change often, repeat Shots change often, repeat