Music videos first emerged in the 1920s as promotional films for songs. They gained popularity with the rise of MTV in 1981, which exclusively played music videos and helped artists promote their music visually. Key developments included Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" video, one of the first to feature a storyline. Today, social media platforms like YouTube have profoundly impacted the industry by allowing unknown artists to self-promote, and digital technologies continue advancing the production quality and creative possibilities of music videos.