Brief history of the music video

1. History of the music video

2. What is a music video
A music video is a short film created in order to present a visual representation of a
piece of music. Music videos are used in order to promote an artist or specific song.

3. Soundies
 One of the first forms of music videos had been one song films called
soundies, these had been made in 1940 for the Panoram visual jukebox. Many
soundies had been made specifically for Jazz musicians. These jukeboxes had
usually been in restaurants and bars, people had paid to watch the music clip on
the juke box.

4. First music clips on TV
 The very first short musical films that had been made in the USA specifically
for television were the Snader Telescriptions, these were 1000 short musical
presentations, filmed for use of television fillers between 1950 and 1954.

5. Musicals in film
 Music centred films that consisted of music clips became popular in the 1950’s,
two popular artists that have been known to use this technique are Elvis Presley
and Michael Jackson.

6. MTV 1981
 In 1981, MTV had been launched, this was to be a significant era for music as
this was the first channel dedicated to music videos 24 hours a day. The first
music video on MTV had been ‘Music Killed The Radio Star’ by the Buggles.

7. First 5 songs broadcasted on MTV

8. Music videos in modern society
 Modern music videos in the Hip Hop genre often objectify females, supporting
the theory that many music videos are created for male pleasure, supporting
Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze’ theory. Below are some music videos to support
this theory.

9. Music channels that arose after MTV
These are just a few of the channels that
had arose after the start of MTV, all of
these channels are available to Sky
subscribers.

10. Notable music video directors
 Paul Hunter
One of Paul Hunter’s most notable pieces of work was Hypnotize by Notorious Big.
 Hype Williams
Notable work includes Kanye Wests ‘All of the lights’ and ‘Get Lucky’ by Pharrell Williams.
 Anthony Mandler
Most notable work includes ‘Holy Grail’ by Jay Z and ‘Diamonds’ by Rihanna.