Music video

A music video is a video that combines a song or an album with pictures and scenes made for promotional or artistic reasons. Today, music videos are mostly created to help sell music and are shown on music television and video websites like YouTube. They can also be sold on home video as collections or single videos.

Music videos became popular in the 1960s and grew even more in the 1980s when the TV channel MTV started showing them. They use many different styles and ways to make videos, such as animation, live-action, documentary, and abstract film. Some music videos show images from the song's lyrics, while others tell a story or just record a live concert performance.

History and development

In 1894, publishers hired artists to promote a song called "The Little Lost Child." They used a magic lantern to show images on a screen during live performances. This became popular and was an early step toward music videos.

With the arrival of films with sound, many short musical films were made. Cartoons and animations featured popular songs, inviting audiences to sing along. Early films by Walt Disney and Warner Bros. also centered around music. Musicians like Bessie Smith and Louis Jordan appeared in short films performing their songs.

Musicals of the 1950s led to short-form music videos.

"Soundies" were musical films created for film jukeboxes between 1939 and 1947, often including dance sequences. These were early forms of music videos.

The television show "Top of the Pops" began in 1964, creating a demand for promotional videos. These videos replaced live performances and helped establish the music video genre. The Beatles made promotional clips for their songs, and Queen’s video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" became very influential.

MTV launched in 1981, changing how music was promoted. Music videos became central to marketing, with artists like Michael Jackson and Madonna using them to great effect. The channel helped popularize music videos worldwide.

By the 2000s, websites like YouTube changed how people watched music videos. Artists could now share videos online, and many gained fame through these platforms. Today, music videos are made in many styles, including simple lyric videos that show the song's words on screen.

Censorship

Music videos are a form of artistic expression, but sometimes their content is seen as too offensive for certain audiences. Different countries have different rules about what can be shown, so music videos might be edited or even banned if they break these rules.

In the 1980s, some music videos were banned for having content that was thought to be unsuitable for TV. For example, Queen’s video for “Body Language” was banned by MTV because of its themes, and Duran Duran’s “Girls on Film” was banned by the BBC for its bold imagery. Artists sometimes used these bans to gain more attention for their work.

In the 1990s, videos by artists like Michael Jackson and Madonna faced bans for various reasons, including religious imagery and themes that some found inappropriate. The video for Madonna’s “Justify My Love” was banned by MTV for its bold content, leading to special late-night showings in Canada.

The 2000s saw more videos face censorship. Robbie Williams’ “Rock DJ” showed graphic scenes that led to edits in the UK. Björk’s “Pagan Poetry” was banned for its bold imagery. In the 2010s, videos like Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” drew criticism for their themes, while Lil Nas X’s “Montero” in the 2020s sparked debate for its bold visuals. Some videos were banned or edited to fit broadcast standards, while others continued to draw attention and discussion.

Commercial release

Video single

Main article: Vingle

A video single has no more than three music videos and comes on formats like VHS, LaserDisc or DVD. In 1983, a British band called the Human League released the first video single. It didn’t sell very well because it cost more than regular singles. The video single became more popular when Madonna released "Justify My Love" in 1990. This video single is still the best-selling one of all time.

DVD singles became popular in the late 1990s. Some well-known DVD singles include Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This", Jessica Simpson's "With You", and Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love". In Japan, artists often release singles that include both a CD and a DVD. These are very popular and often appear on music charts.

Unofficial music videos

Unofficial music videos are made by fans using existing footage from TV shows, movies, or other sources and matching it with a song. The first known fan video, called a songvid, was created in 1975 by Kandy Fong using images from Star Trek. As technology improved, more fans began making their own videos.

A famous example is a video made for Danger Mouse's mix of Jay-Z’s song "Encore" with music from the Beatles. In 2004, a fan from South Africa made a claymation video for Placebo’s song "English Summer Rain", and the band liked it so much they included it on their DVD. In 2016, a Flash animation of the Beatles’ song "Come Together" was added to their Blu-ray disc.

Music video stations

Main article: List of music video television channels

Music videos are special videos that combine songs with pictures, stories, or animations. They are mostly made to help sell music and are shown on special television channels dedicated to music videos. You can also watch them on video websites like YouTube. These videos help people enjoy music in a visual way, making the songs more fun and interesting to watch.

Music video shows

A music video is a short film that combines a song with pictures and actions. It helps share the music with fans and can also promote the sale of music recordings. Today, music videos are often seen on music television channels and video streaming sites like YouTube, or sometimes in movie theaters.