1. 1. The History OfMusic VideosBy Daisy Ibbitson
2. 2. What is a music video?A music video also video clip / promo, is a short film is meant to present avisual representation of a popular music song.Modern day music videos are said to be made for marketing purposes only,they're to advertise and promote the singer, and the musical content.MUSIC VIDEO HISTORYWith the arrival of the show Talkies in 1926 many musical short films wereproduced from this time.Vitaphone produced by the Warner Bros introducedmany bands, vocalists and dancers into these short films. As years went by WaltDisney started to produce films based around music. For example Fantasia. Thisshort film was based around a Classical piece of music.This here is a snapshot of Bessie Smiths-StLouis Blues (1929) original footage onYouTube. Bessie Smith a Blues singerappears here in a two reel short film. Thiswas shown in theatres up until 1932.LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpVCqXRlXx4
3. 3. Music Video HistoryFrom this moment onwards music videos have been progressing and growing into whatthey are today. In the 1940s musician Louis Jordan started to make short films for hissongs for entertainment purpose. These short films have been branded the ancestors ofthe music video. Musical films were also very important in the growth of music videos,even well known music videos today such as songs by Madonna and Michael Jacksonall imitate things from those musical films back in the 1940s.1950sIn the 1950s we saw the rise of early music clips. Tony Bennett claimed tohave made the first music video when he was filmed walking down Hype Park.The film ended up being set to his recording of the song, the clip wasfurthermore sent to the UK and US to be aired on shows.In 1957 Elvis Presley starred in the second msuic video of Jail House Rock.Moving further on, in 1958 the oldest promotional music clip was created byDiame si do bytu and was said to be very abstract to previous clips made.
4. 4. Music Video History1960sIn the 1960s Promotional clips and videos were beingcreated a lot more frequently. The Beatles starred in theirfirst feature film called A Hard Days Night. At the time itwas shot in black and white and presented as a mockdocumentary. This was said at the time to be the model forall upcoming music videos. The Beatles then went on torelease Help! Which was shot in colour in London andinternational locations, and featured shot sequences andcamera angles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWP6Qki8mWcIn 1667 the colour promotional clips for Strawberry fields forever & Penny Lanewas said to take the promotional film format to a whole new level. They used newtechniques such as slow motion, dramatic lighting, unusual camera lighting andcolour filters which had never been seen or used before. From this point on musicvideos began getting better and better, with new ideas being used and new techniquespeople had never before thought of.
5. 5. Music Video HistoryAround this time also concert films were beginning to be released. As time keptprogressing so did the artists and their content. In 1968 Elvis Preseley, recorded musicvideos, in recording studios. He did this in order to promote their new albums thatwere going to be released.Between 1974-1980 it was aid to be the real beginning of music televeison.Tv showsin Australia such as Countdown were crucially significant in developing andpopularizing the music videos genre in Australia and other countries around theworld./around this time a television show called Sounds was featuring, it neededconstant new music material which wasnt as easy to find back then. Because of thisthe owner asked people if they wanted to shoot footage of popular songs to featured.With this strategy they managed to gather 25 clips for their show, which was prettyimpressive for this time.
6. 6. Music Video HistoryTop of the POPsOne of the most world known music channels Top Of The Pops began playing musicvideos as early as the late 1970s.This was the first directly popular music channel thatplayed new music videos weekly on the basis of gaining popularity initially thenleading to more sales of the song. It became incredibly popular and was a huge hitwith the public. They would feature new artists and material weekly, and was one ofthe biggest opportunities artists had at that time in order to put themselves out theirand gain fans. Before Top of the Pops it was difficult to do this, this TV show allowedthem to gain views and appearance they may never of been able to have before. It alsodidnt discriminate on genre at this time too, they played anything and everythingwhich proved such a ssucsess.Leading the show to only just come to a close a coupleof years ago.As the 2000s came top of the pops was being watched everywhere, and audience ofthousands would tune in every week to listen to the new songs.t went down a stormwith the audience, and was excellent viewing entertainment regardless. When theshow ended, many said it was an end of an era. But most importantly, it played amassive part in the music video history.
7. 7. Music Video HistoryMTVIn 1981 a US music television show called MTV marked the beginning of an era formusic video history. An era so big, as of yet nothing will beta it.When the musicvideo based television show aired in the US for the first time is began immediatelypopular. For the first time ever a 24 hour a day music video programme wasavailable to watch on the TV. With this new music video outlet it opened a door wideopen for a huge growth in the music video industry. This television programme mentlike Top Of The Pops, they would play music videos frequently of buddingartists.However,the only different with MTV is that this television show lasted 24hours a day, and was a sole channel just for the purpose of displaying vidoes.Ratherthan it just having 1 slot in a channel such at ITV or the BBC.It was incrediblyinnovating for its time period, and only led to success for everyone. MTV is stillrunning today and has never been so popular.Many people who was successful in this time and possibly because of this TV showwere:Madonna;Duran Duran and Adam and the Ants. They earned a great deal ofsuccess and their music videos where displayed for all to see.
8. 8. Music Video HistoryIn 1983 an extremely successful and still highly spoke about music video Thriller byMichael Jackson was released. The video was 14 minute long and set extremely highnew standards for all other music videos to come. They spent nearly 800,000 USdollars on getting the videos right and set out with the aim to get it played in the newMTV music channel. This was said by many to be the best music video of all time upuntil then.In 1992-2004 it was called the rise of the directors in the music video industry. Atthis time directors started becoming increasingly better and more creative with theirvideos adding elements others wasn't to gain popularity. Around this time 1 directorcalled Romanek was known for his 7 million dollar music video. That featuredMichael Jackson and Janet Jackson Scream this to date is stills aid to be the mostexpensive music video of all time. During this period MTV launched music channelsall around the world to attract all different countries.
9. 9. Music Video History2005-present In the 2000s technology was progressing tremendously which meant so was the musicindustry and its acsessibility.Heres a list of platforms that launched which enabledmusic video growth: I film Napster YouTube Myspace Facebook Google videos Yahoo! Video ITunes VevoThese platforms were all essential in helping the music video industry grow, they allallowed music videos to be published world wide and be seen and viewed by anyone whowanted them. It enabled advertising and even earned the people and the artists a lot ofmoney themselves.
10. 10. ConclusionIn conclusion music videos from the very beginning, when they were first foundhave been progressing and only getting better ever since. They started out assimple short films and ended up being extremely complex full of special effectsand extra add ons to create a really spectacular music video. Its evident that themusic video industry is a very large market, and every music video created isunique in its own way yet I feel still falls into on of Kate Domailes categories.In 2014,music videos have never been so important. Directors and artists andstill competing to out do each other with their music videos. A lot of the musicvideos out today are complex, but still have tradition values. Looking back onthe history of music videos has been really interesting, and has enabled me tosee the growth of them from when they very first came about.