Music videos began in the early 20th century with films featuring artists lip syncing to songs. In the 1950s and 60s, promotional videos became more common. The genre expanded in the 1970s with shows promoting new music videos. In 1981, MTV launched and exclusively featured music videos, popularizing the form. Directors became auteurs in the 1990s, crafting iconic videos. Today, websites like YouTube have largely replaced MTV as the primary platform for viewing user-generated music videos.