HISTORY OF MUSIC VIDEOSBy Aamna

19TH CENTURY

The success and popularity of music videos started

off with the launch of MTV, 31 years ago but people

may be surprised to find out that the timeline of

music videos goes back to the late 19th century. The

first music video was filmed in 1895 at Thomas

Edison’s studio. It was made for a Kinetoscope.

This is where the viewer would look into a peep

hole and watch a motion picture which would be

accompanied with sound. The sound and picture

were made synchoronous as they would be

connected by a belt.

19TH CENTURY CARRIED ON- In the 1920s, a theater in New York (Rivoli Theater) presented the first motion picture with sound on film, this synchronised movies and there soundtracks. - In the 1940s, jukeboxes played soundies. Soundies were three minute films featuring music and dance performances by the era’s greatest talents from jazz singers and swing dancers. They were played in bars, restaurants and other public places. - In the 1960s, The Beatles used the power of film to promote their records. They starred in full length features such as “Help” and “A Hard Days Night”. Rock and roll bands inthe late 1960s and 70s started to follow their lead by releasing promo

films. - In the 1970s, music programs premiered in Austrailia(such as “Countdowns” and “Sound”). They featured music videos and created a large following which spread to other countries. In 1978, three years before MTV, an American program called “Video Concert Hall” showed unhosted music videos everyday.

MTV

- MTV first launched in 1981 and the first music

video they aired was by the Buggles called “Video

Killed The Radio Star” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-tXRLazs

- In there early days they aired basic music videos

that were introduced by video jockeys. They were

provided for free by record companies and as a

result, MTV was valued as a promotional vehicle.

Directors of music videos including Spike Jonze

and Michel Gondry worked on music videos before

going into feature films.- In the 1980s MTV was a huge part of promoting careers

of

artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and more.

By the late 1980s MTV started to debut reality TV series’,

documentaries, game shows and then launched the MTV

Music Video Awards followed by the MTV Movie Awards.

THRILLER – MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael Jackson’s Thriller video is seen to be the most

influential pop video of all time. It is a 13 minute and 43

second music video which had a huge effect on pop

culture and sold over 9 million units:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

Also, Michael Jackson’s music

video “Scream” was the most

expensive music video

ever.

VH1

In 1985 VH1 was launched. This music channel featured soft music and had a target audience

of an older demographic which widened the

audience of people who enjoyed watching music videos.There original purpose was to build on the

success of MTV by playing music videos but they then

also started playing reality TV shows.

YOUTUBEYouTube is a website introduced in 2005 which

allows people to watch videos online. Users can

upload, share and view videos which has increased

the popularity of them. For example, Lady Gaga’s

music video of “Poker Face” has 375 million views

alone and her other music videos have previously

reached one billion views. Also, there are 34 billion music

videos YouTube with 183 million viewers.

Recently, Vevo was introduced in 2009 which also provides

music videos from the “big four” record labels.

ITUNESAlso, in 2005 iTunes opened which allows music

videos (and songs) to be downloaded from the internet. Television shows, iPod games, audiobooks, podcasts

and movies can also be downloaded.This has also increased the popularity of music

videos because if the viewers watch a video on YouTube

that they like, it can then be downloaded from iTunes.