A music video is a short film used to promote an artist's song. The origins of music videos date back to the 1930s with musical films, though they became more widely popular starting in the 1980s with the rise of MTV. Modern music videos are used primarily as marketing tools to sell songs and albums, increase exposure for artists, and create memorable visuals associated with their music. Common elements of music videos include performances, narratives, themes, symbols, and cameos.