1. Y A S M I N W A T K I N S
M E D I A S T U D I E S : G 3 2 4
Examples of Types of
Music Video

2. Narrative-based video
 This consists mainly of a storyline relating to the lyrics and
genre of the song throughout the video. It can be performed
by the artists or hired extras.
 It’s known to also interlink with shots from a performance of
the band, to break up the video and keep the audience’s
interest.
 This type of video is also used for songs that feature in
films, with scenes from the film cut into the video to
enhance the viewing experience. For example, Decode by
Paramore was used for the Twilight film; it combined the
three types of music video by using a narrative, Twilight’s
concept and a performance.

3. Advantages VS. Disadvantages
This is a good technique to use for engaging the
audience, as it enhances the viewing experience
by allowing the audience to see the artist’s
visual representation of the lyrics
It allows its audience to interact and discuss the
meaning of the video
o The storyline is typically limited to the lyrics of
the song
Narrative-based video

4. Performance-based video
 These involve the artist or band performing the song.
 It uses different takes of the artist(s), usually incorporating
costume and setting changes, to jump cut to throughout the
video.
 This type can be combined with a narrative-led video, where
the artist or band are playing their instruments in conjunction
to a story narrative.
 ‘30 Seconds To Mars- Closer To The Edge’ is a good example of
this. The video features footage of the band playing different
venues on their tour edited together to make the
video, effectively telling a story in a documentary-style.

5.  It allows the audience to see the band in a typical concert
setting, when they may not have the chance to see in
person.
o A 3-4 minute video of just the band performing the song
would lose the interest of the audience, therefore, a
sideline narrative is usually cut in-between shots of the
band, to create a pace in the video.
o Mediation would influence the certain shots of the artist or
band that ended up in the final product, possibly portraying
them a way the industry want them to, to sell more.
Performance-based video
Advantages VS. Disadvantages

6.  This type of video may incorporate the artists
performing the song
 More reliant on special effects and editing techniques
 It follows an unconventional theme, which ‘Everybody
Hurts’ by R.E.M. uses the concept surrounding the
title, and pans over very different people who are stuck
in traffic with typewriter text appearing like subtitles on
the screen, to tell us what the characters are
thinking, occasionally matching the lyrics of the song.
Concept-based video

7.  Has more potential to go viral and gain worldwide
recognition
 Typically uses original, creative ideas
 Can infuse with a campaign idea, in a documentary-style
video, to create an awareness through music
o It can create a ‘love/hate relationship’ with their
audience. For example, ‘Gangnam Style’s popularity by
South Korean artist PSY can be demonstrated by
likes/dislikes on their YouTube video:
o More expensive to make (extras, costume, effects)
Concept-based video
Advantages VS. Disadvantages

8. Overall Preference
 Through research it is clear that music videos typically
infuse more than one type to keep the audience visually
interested in what is going on.
 I think conceptual music videos either work really well or
can easily be forgotten, and would like to attempt this if I
were to create my own music video.
 I think a narrative-based video shot alongside with an
artist performing works the best, as this provides the
audience with a story to follow, while also putting the
artist in the spotlight.