history of music videos

1. HISTORY OF MUSIC
VIDEOS

2. What is a music video?
■ 'A music video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for
promotional or artistic purposes’

3. Early MusicVideos
■ Early music videos from the use of sound and music in cinema rather than that of
silent movies started in the late 1920’s.These were called ‘talkies, and were known as
musical short films. Companies like that of vitaphone produced videos featuring many
bands , vocalists and dancers, similar is in its basic format as videos of todays music
industry. Music videos, were not to accompany any released song but instead were
short films constructed with the music along side, shown asWalt Disney used classical
music in these films, like that of Fantasia.
■ The first music video is recognised as Blues singer Bessie Smiths appearance in a two
reel short film called St Louis Blues (1929).The oldest example of a promotional music
video is ‘Lets go to the Apartment’ directed by Ladislav Rychman in 1958.

4. Move into PromotionalVideos
■ The late 1950’s saw the use of short films to accompany musicians songs in order for
them to become much more and better known and reach a larger audience.Various
locations and lip synching in order to create the video were used throughout.
■ This era during the mid 20th century (1960’s) saw these types of music videos being
used by mainstream bands and acts like that of the Beatles, whose videos would
primarily consist of them only performing the song and for it to be shot in black and
white. There style of music video also changed as the time progressed and video
improved with their music video Help! Showing their new look, with it also being shot
in colour. This is wear artists would begin to brand themselves through their music
videos with singers like David Bowie and Elvis employing these ideas for their success.

5. Late 70’s & 1980’s MusicTelevision
■ In 1975 British band Queen released the video to the hugely successful and popular
Bohemian Rhapsody on BBCsTop OfThe Pops, it was "widely credited as the first global hit
single for which an accompanying video was central to the marketing strategy". With “Its
influence cannot be overstated, practically inventing the music video seven years before
MTV went on the air”.
■ Other media platforms like that of Saturday Night Live and music magazines began
discussing music videos regularly, with this era also starting the mass production of music
videos with David Bowies video to Ashes to Ashes being the most expensive at the time of
over a million dollars.
■ These videos began to move away from just performance but also not having a clear
meaning and being weird and conceptual, with them also being used to show different
messages and stories.
■ MTV was also established in 1981, with 24 hour media outlets of music videos and new
songs from the most popular artists.

6. MusicVideos on the Internet
■ From the development of social media and the internet in the mid 2000’s, music
videos have been able to spread easily and affordably to the masses, increasing the
accessibility of them on the go.
■ Platforms like that ofYouTube has allowed not only big stars but upcoming artists to
broadcast their music and their videos to the world, for them to be discussed over
social networks.
■ Videos have also seen an increase of lyrics videos with stars like that of Ellie Goulding,
Muse and Katy Perry creating them for their audiences.