Music Video, song-length film or videotape production that combines the music of a particular musician or group with complementary visual images. Most music videos are made for broadcasting on television. Some are also sold on videotape or laser disc.
In the 1960s and 1970s, rock musicians such as the Beatles produced what were called songfilms. There was little opportunity to broadcast such films, however, until the late 1970s, when rock musicians began to use music videos to promote their new recordings. With the expansion of cable television channels in the 1980s and the introduction of Music Television (MTV) in 1981, music videos gained wide popularity. Within a short time, almost every major rock artist—recognizing that a video could reach large audiences quickly—was producing music videos that were released along with their new recordings.
The broadcasting of music videos has expanded rapidly to include other popular styles of music, such as country and gospel. The visual style of music videos varies greatly. Wealthier artists—such as Michael Jackson and Madonna—produce videos that include elaborate choreography, sets, costumes, and sometimes special effects. Clay animation (claymation) featured strongly in the video produced by Aardman Animations of Bristol for the song “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel in 1986, still considered a classic in its field. In the 1990s the increased availability of sophisticated image-processing techniques on computers has hugely extended the visual range of many music videos. Other musicians use simpler formats, such as filming a performance with basic lighting and sets, though even in such cases the soundtrack of the video is overdubbed from a studio recording. Some musicians release a number of videos, linked by continuing story lines or themes, with a new album.
Music videos play an important role in shaping public perceptions of musicians. Imagery, special effects, and editing have become defining elements of music videos. The style of music videos has strongly influenced advertising, films, and television programmes.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
In the 1960s and 1970s, rock musicians such as the Beatles produced what were called songfilms. There was little opportunity to broadcast such films, however, until the late 1970s, when rock musicians began to use music videos to promote their new recordings. With the expansion of cable television channels in the 1980s and the introduction of Music Television (MTV) in 1981, music videos gained wide popularity. Within a short time, almost every major rock artist—recognizing that a video could reach large audiences quickly—was producing music videos that were released along with their new recordings.
The broadcasting of music videos has expanded rapidly to include other popular styles of music, such as country and gospel. The visual style of music videos varies greatly. Wealthier artists—such as Michael Jackson and Madonna—produce videos that include elaborate choreography, sets, costumes, and sometimes special effects. Clay animation (claymation) featured strongly in the video produced by Aardman Animations of Bristol for the song “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel in 1986, still considered a classic in its field. In the 1990s the increased availability of sophisticated image-processing techniques on computers has hugely extended the visual range of many music videos. Other musicians use simpler formats, such as filming a performance with basic lighting and sets, though even in such cases the soundtrack of the video is overdubbed from a studio recording. Some musicians release a number of videos, linked by continuing story lines or themes, with a new album.
Music videos play an important role in shaping public perceptions of musicians. Imagery, special effects, and editing have become defining elements of music videos. The style of music videos has strongly influenced advertising, films, and television programmes.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® Encyclopedia 2003. © 1993-2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
