Music videos were not as important 30 years ago as they are now. MTV was influential in giving music videos prominence when it first started broadcasting in 1981, exposing viewers to artists and helping promote their work. Some saw this as enabling new talent while others argued it reduced raw skill. Artists like Madonna leveraged the music video format to greatly increase their popularity and fame.

1. A History of
Music Videos

2. A general outline
• Thirty years ago+, music videos were no
where as near as important as they are now.
• They help to promote artists, gain them
popularity, and get nominated for awards.
• Now that globalization is becoming a bigger
occurrence, music videos are a way to help
the artists: express themselves and promote
themselves (over Youtube, etc...)

3. MTV
• MTV was what gave music videos their importance.
• In 1981, MTV started broadcasting across televisions
in the USA.
• The first ever music video broadcasted on MTV was
“Video Killed the Radio Star” - The Buggles.
• Some believed that this was the start of a new
generation/era for artists to produce some quality
work to their fans, but others argued that it killed
raw talent, as music videos have now mostly become
the subject of voyeurism.

4. Madonna
• It is thought that Madonna’s music
videos were what transformed her
into a ‘legendary star.’ She was seen
as sexy and had an appealing look to
audiences.
• She is said to have followed and been
inspired by the Greta Garbo’s image
(in her silent films).

5. However, Even Earlier...
• In 1929, St Louis Blue’s - Bessie Smith
was released.
• This was a short film (named St Louis
Blue’s) which involved a performous
of her hit song.

6. Disney’s Musical
Animation
• In the early 1930’s, Walt Disney made
an array of short films - including
Fantasia and Silly Symphonies, which
was released as an animated film
involving cartoons who interacted
with famous pieces of classical music.