Music videos are generally made to promote artists and their music. There are two main types - performance videos that show the artist singing or playing along to their song, and concept videos that tell a story. Famous directors like Spike Jonze, David Fincher, and Mark Romanek are known for high production quality videos that entertain audiences and help promote albums. The budget for a music video can range from $20,000 to $500,000 depending on the artist, song, and production elements. Audiences most commonly access music videos through free streaming on YouTube, where videos from major artists regularly receive hundreds of millions of views.
2. HOW ARE MUSIC VIDEOS GENERALLY
MADE?
A music video I made differently depending on the type of music/artist.
A performance music video is made with the singer/band lip syncing or playing their
instruments to the music.
While filming h music video the song is played through loud speakers allowing the
singer/band to hear the music and play/sing in time to it.
Process
Storyboard Filming schedule Filming Editing
3. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A MUSIC VIDEO
FOR THE COMPANIES/ARTISTS THAT MAKE
THEM?
Generally a music video is made for promotional purposes (promoting the
band/singer).
A music video is a message to the audience but also they’re there to
entertain.
Quite often a music video is released before the album to promote it prior to
the release, by doing this the album will potentially get more sales when it is
released.
If a music video is really good and enjoyed a lot by the audience it could
become viral, the more promotion the video gets the more promotion the
singer/band receive meaning they make more money.
4. WHO ARE SOME FAMOUS MUSIC VIDEO
DIRECTORS AND WHY ARE THEIR VIDEOS
SO WELL-KNOWN/SUCCESSFUL?
A few examples of famous music video directors are Spike Jonze, David Fincher and
Mark Romanek. These 3 directors are responsible for the creation of music videos
such as:
•Sonic Youth- 100%
•Jay z- 99 Problems
• Beastie Boys- Sabotage
•Madonna- Vogue
•Fatboy Slim- Praise You
Overall I think these directors have become so
well-known and successful because they all have
access to funds allowing their productions be
done so well. A music video like Sabotage by the
Beastie Boys would’ve taken extensive planning
and production and a director like Spike Jonze is
able to afford it. I think the videos do well
because the directors spend such a long time
making them.
5. HOW MUCH MONEY IS USUALLY SPENT ON
THE AVERAGE MUSIC VIDEO?
The budget of a music video usually varies depending on who is making it, who the artist/band is, how
popular the song is but also it depends on what will happen in the video.
The budget will generally cover the costs of: concept development, storyboards, pre-production, casting,
on-camera talent, choreography, rehearsals, location fees, props, costumes, production equipment,
production crew, post-production, editing, motion graphics, visual effects, color correction, video
encoding, and digital delivery.
The amount usually spent on a music video will vary from around $20,000 to $500,000.
An example of a good high budget music
video is Taylor Swift- Bad Blood, this music
video contains a huge all star cast which is
most likely where a lot of the budget went to
get them all in it. However there is also quite
a few special effects and different locations,
costumes, props etc.
An example of a good low budget music video
is Beyoncé- 7/11 this is perhaps one of
Beyoncé's most low budget music video as it
is very similar to a home video as it is all
filmed in the hotel that her and her family
were staying in.
6. HOW DO AUDIENCES HAVE ACCESS TO
MUSIC VIDEOS?
Recently some artists like Beyoncé have decided to release their music videos along
with their album (visual album) a lot of artists music videos become available through
many different streaming sites such as YouTube, Vimeo, Viva but also on Television
with channels like 4music and MTV. The most common streaming site audiences will
access the music videos is YouTube, a lot of artists will have a VIVO account where
they will release of all their videos to. YouTube is free and easy to use therefore
millions of people will watch music videos here.
PSY-Gangnam Style has reached over 2.5 billion views on YouTube now and within 5
days of it being released Adele’s Hello reached over billion views.
