1. Conventions of Music Videos
Camera Shots:
Music videos tend to include many long shots, close ups and mid shots. This
is to create emphasis on the artist, location and emotions. Also, close ups are
used not only to show emotions but to reflect the words of the song with the
movement of the lips of the artist.
Camera Movement:
The movement of the camera is used to follow and trace the artist or band.
Camera movements include tilts, pans, tracking and crane shots.
Mise-en-scene:
This refers to the arrangement of performers and props on stage or in a
scene for a production of a music video or any other media text. Mise-en-
scene puts importance on the representation of something. An example is,
‘Mad’ by Neyo. The mise-en scene involves him walking down a road alone,
being in an isolated room. This reflects the isolation from his lover. Also, the
props include hats and dark clothes which represent the down mood of the
song. Similarly, the lighting is kept very dark as it is black and white; this
connotes the angry and depressed mood. This is just one example of the
mise en scene used to give an idea of how mise-en-scene works.
Neyo - Mad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAYuOc7_TKg&feature=fvst
Editing:
Jump cuts is the predominant editing technique used in music videos. This is
because this allows a sudden change from one scene to another. Similarly,
transitions such as fade and dissolve are very common in music videos as
they create a different effect to cuts.
Other main conventions consist of:
Lighting:
Some music videos are black and white which help emphasise a particular
mood and some videos have artificial lighting which put the artist/s in an
enhanced look.
Sound:
Sound is mainly the vocals or the song but in some cases such as Michael
Jackson – Thriller, the producers can make the music video into a short film.
Props:
These are a vital in aiding to add to the scene and create significance on
particular objects or people.

2. Costume:
This goes with the scenes in the song and reflects the genre. Costume is an
important factor because it has a slight influence on how the viewers will
dress because they use some of the celebrities as role models
Colour:
Colours tend to set the mood of the song through creating an atmosphere.
For example, dark colours are used more in rock songs such as Kings of Leon
and bright colours are seen to be used more in hip hop and pop videos.

3. Music conventions in Indie/Rock:
• Tends to be black and white
• The artist/band is shown throughout the video
• Use of extreme close ups and long shots are popular
• Dark locations
• Face paced
• Some use of special effects
Examples:
• Kings of Leon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhairF_DS8
• The Fray http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY2INQnmRyk
• Arctic Monkeys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30w8DyEJ__0
Music Conventions in Hip Hop videos
• Locations tends to be a party, club fancy location
• Use of alcohol
• Recognised brands and clothing
• Expensive cars and houses
• Camera shots tend to long and establishing to show the money
involved. Close ups to show the jewellery and assets of the artists.
• Attractive women
• Does not follow a storyline, only follows the genre
• Artist(s) tend to be involved
Examples:
• 50 Cent http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss
• T.I. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK082mbeBZ0
• T-Pain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui86peQZ74s
Music Conventions in Pop videos
• Bright and colourful
• Close ups to show the cheerful and upbeat emotions
• Extreme close ups – these tend to show the purity and innocence in
the personality of the artists
• Aims at the teenage audience
• Very upbeat
Examples:
• Britney Spears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brYTO6JHMHs
• Madonna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWTDR6ztcnQ
• Alesha Dixon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-503QA6F08g