History of a music video - Miss Georgiou

Music videos can be viewed by the public in a various numbers of ways, to which has developed been developed upon due to advancements in technologies, specifically the internet. The generic way to watch music videos in the modern world is primarily through the use of the social network site youtube, and other outlets such as google play, MTV.com and other online outlets. For physical ways such as television, music videos can be watched via music channels, more being made available with TV package services such as virgin media and sky TV.


Music video channels were originally the main way of being able to both experience the visuals that came along with the song. The first of which music channel was MTV, which was first launched on the 1st of august 1981, although the original purpose of which of the television program wasn't like today where a channel is solely devoted to the official videos of a song; the purpose being to play music videos guided by television personalities known as "video jockeys". This was most probably done at the start of the era of music videos as such television personalities to draw attention to the music artists and the shows themselves, kickstarting musical trends for the time and the start of the development of music channels. 

Bugles, video killed the radio star (created in 1979) was the first music video to be shown on MTV which was aired in 1981, the first year of MTV being on television. This was the breakthrough music video which came on the air for the music channel. At the time of the release of both the music video and the music channel itself, MTV: Music Television was essentially the only way to watch music videos. Due to this, the release of such videos enables for such a large amount of promotion towards the song but more so the artist as well, allowing for the viewer to get a better insight into the song itself and the potential meaning (or concept) behind it. This also allowed for viewers of the video to get an insight into the artist themselves as before such videos the primary way of consuming music was through radio, so seeing the artist themselves perform the song gives the viewer a better insight towards the artist. Continuing on from the idea of music video concept, the title of the music video at hand is "video killed the radio store", to which implying the beginning of the end of radio listening, as this was the start of the global transition from radio being the primary way of consuming music, to music videos being generally more popular and


In the modern day era, due to the development in both the internet and technologies as a whole, youtube has become the most prevalent place to watch music videos, being the go to place for most music fans and the general public to be able to watch and listen to new releases for free on multiple devices, any place and anytime. Youtube itself being a form of social media which was created in February of 2005, originally being created by 3 former pay pal staff, to which it was later purchased the following year by google for $1.65 billion US dollars. Youtube plays a pivotal role in the music industry in the modern day, an example of which can be seen throughout the most viewed youtube videos.

The image above showing the top 30 most viewed youtube videos in history, from which the overwhelming majority of videos within being music videos in fact. The top of the chart and most viewed youtube video being Psy's "Gangnam Style", since the release in on the 15th July 2012, surpassing over 2 billion views since. This therefore demonstrating the shear amount of attention for music videos on youtube and there popularity throughout the public.

The budgets for music videos can vary, the more expensive music productions exceeding millions of dollar. As seen bellow the highest budget music video production coming from Michael Jackson and Janet Jacksons "Scream", being originally aired in 1995, the production of which costing $7,000,000. The majority of productions seen on the top 10 most expensive music videos are predominantly. On average, a music video production (since 2010) was $200,000 - $500,000.

In regards to music videos, the technology used for such has developed with time as music videos have become more prevalent in the music industry. Looking at the first ever music video to comparing it to a modern day counterpart, it is clear the advancements that have been made have been substantial mainly for the quality of video, as well as the audio quality improving. Essentially, the ever developing technology in general has influence the overall quality which is displayed in modern day videos. As for some music videos, the appeal may lean towards the nature of such being explicit, to which its appeal is for a niche male audience, hence why in modern day videos, examples of such coming from Rihanna (pour it up official video) and Nikki Minaj (starships official video) the picture quality shown is often of an exception standard; the cameras used for such being on par for Imax cinema screens.

The development of smart phones originated from the 16th august 1994, although not nearly having the same capabilities to that of an iPhone 6 per say, but this was the start of the beginning of there existence and soon to be popularity. The uses for smart phones in the modern day are endless, and in regards to music videos and the way in which they are both consumed and advertised, smart phones have had a huge impact to such.  

In regards to consumption, owners of smart phones have access to social media outlets which enable them to watch anything anywhere, with a wireless internet connection. From such this means that apps such as you-tube can allow the public to enjoy both watching and listening to music while on the move, making very few restrictions to the watching of music videos. This has changed throughout the years, as beforehand the original music videos which would have been release would only have been able to be viewed on stationary devices, main example of such being on a television and being viewed on a channel dedicated to just music

In regards to advertisements, smart phone development has impacted this. This is due once again to the large number of outlets on smart phone devices. This means that when it comes to trying to reach out to a particular target audience, it is made easier as certain apps and areas of social media are more likely to have a certain type of people on there, therefore creators and distributors of music can advertise there music dependent on who is more likely to see it on that particular outlet. This has changed throughout the years purely down to the way in which music videos can be consumed, this is as on music channels such as MTV the type and genre of music will vary throughout the play of the station, therefore those on the channel may consist of a diverse group, in which a certain type of music may not appeal to them. Whereas in the modern day, it is made easier to cater certain things towards a particular group of people through the specific outlets.

A music genre is a field of music, set into sub categories depending on the content and nature within the song itself. There is a wide variety of music genres, ranging from the older types of music such as "folk" to your modern day pop genre music.

I believe this research will help me in planning my own music video in a number of ways. The research I have conducted has given me a better insight towards the music industry as a whole. It has given me an indication as to what used to be and what is now in regards to music videos and the overall improvements which have been made, and to what standard would be expected to make a music video seem realistic to an extent.