Music videos initially emerged in the 1940s as a way to promote songs and artists through visuals synced to music. They gained popularity with the rise of music television channels like MTV in the 1980s. Today, music videos are widely used to market songs, albums, artists, directors, and record labels through various online and social media platforms. They provide additional revenue streams beyond music sales and help cross-promote films, TV shows, and other entertainment properties through collaborative partnerships.