1. Key Music Video Conventions
What are the typical music promo
conventions, and do different genres have
specific conventions?

2. Camera
• Camera shots vary but mainly concentrate on making
the artist/band the focus of the video, and also emphasis
the emotion of the song
• Close-ups are used not only to illustrate the emotion of
the song: but also to reflect the words. So major lip
syncing!
• The camera normally follows the movement of the
artist/band. A range of techniques can be used such as
the most common: panning and tracking etc

3. Editing
• The pace of the song will ultimately effect the pace of
editing, for example a upbeat pop song will have a faster
pace of editing compared to a ballad
• Jump cuts are quite common in music videos, this helps
the transition from one location to the next
• You can use other editing techniques too such as
fades/dissolves etc

4. Mise en scene literally means ‘placing the objects
within the scene.’ It is very visual and important in
the representation of a theme/mood/concept
Mise en scene is vital in reflecting the meaning and
tone/feel of the song
MISE-EN-SCENE

5. Lighting
• Lighting can be used to emphasis a certain mood, for
example in Pixie Lott’s ‘Cry me Out’ there is low-key
lighting to emphasis the black and white shots as well as
the sombre mood
• In contrast an upbeat video will use flashing lights and
even coloured lights like in LMFAO’s ‘Sexy and I know it’
• Lighting helps to emphasis the artist and ensure they are
the centre of attention

6. Sound
• The video of course will focus on the song but
sometimes there could be background sound. E.g. The
sea, wind, rain etc
• Sound effects can also be added
Caption from ‘Stan’ by
Eminem

7. Colour
• This helps to set the mood and tone of the video
• Pop and hip-hop songs tend to use more bright and
vibrant colours; whereas a rock music video will use
darker colours
Cheryl Cole ‘Call My Name’
Hugo ‘99 Problems’

8. Costume
• Reflects the genre of the artist, a glam rock artist will
have a flamboyant costume and big curly hair: however
an hip-hop artist will be dressed in urban clothing
• Costumes need to be on trend so that they appeal to the
target audience and so their fans aspire to be like them
Lady Gaga ‘Bad Romance’

9. Props
• Props add significance however bold or little they are
• Used correctly they can reflect the tone of the video
Aaron ‘U-Turn (Lili)’
Julian Perretta ‘Wonder Why’