Have you ever watched music videos like Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” or Justin Bieber’s “Peaches?”
Nowadays, many like to watch MVs which has become a common topic for conversations. However, it wasn’t always like this!
So, here we are to explain in detail how this notion was popularised to an extent where it became a part of people's daily lives!
In this article, we will be diving into the details of the evolution and the vast history of music videos.
And how the concept of music videos came such a long way from TV screens to digital streams like YouTube.
So, read until the end to get all the information! Let’s begin, shall we?
Back in the early days, the idea of music videos was still relatively new, and hardly anyone knew about it.
Everything was way different than it is today!
Today, we will see the journey of how “music videos” (which were never heard of back in the day) came to be such a prominent subject in this age of social media.
Different eras of music videos came and went and made this concept what it is today!
How it became a part of the culture and shaped an entire upcoming generation.
Let’s have a look at what exactly happened that made the notion of “music videos” such a force to be reckoned with in this digital world of endless possibilities!
In the early days of the cinema when the concept of music videos was obscure among the common folks, a special type of three-minute musical film was produced that also featured some sort of performance along with the music.
This musical film was known as a soundie.
They were produced between 1940 and 1946. Soundies are practically the antecedent of music videos.
After soundies came the promotional videos which were usually recorded to promote/advertise an upcoming music video of any particular artist.
Back in the day, artists created these promo clips for their upcoming works on a whim and these weren’t that widespread among the populace.
Music videos from the 1980s were rarely heard of, much less as popular as they are now.
However, everything took a 180-degree turn with the arrival of MTV (Music Television), a TV channel dedicated to music videos only.
MTV is one of the major contributors to the worldwide popularity of this culture, defining an entire generation.
The music industry was never the same after the coming of MTV. It quickly became a platform for creators to promote their music.
During this era, the MV’s of many famous artists and legends like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and A-ha’s “Take On Me” came out on this platform taking the world by storm!
The potential of MV’s came to be known by everyone. With the help of music videos, one can depict an entire story in mere minutes to their audience.
The entire industry was rocked to its core and the traditional way to do things changed.
MTV not only made waves around the world and revolutionized the very concept of music videos but also influenced many.
One can call this era the “dawn before the sunrise” of the golden age of music videos which was about to come. Let’s talk about that next!
During this golden age, music videos, for the first time, actually started to gain some real recognition from the people.
The popularity of these types of videos soared sky-high as they continued to become even more popular.
The concept of music videos did exist even before this era, however, it wasn’t as common a topic as World War 2 which took place a few years prior!
Only a scant few were aware of the existence of these types of special videos.
Back then this wasn’t even a topic of conversation much less something that will be the talk of the town.
Now, MTV was a platform that was always considered first and foremost for any promotional campaign by the artists.
Artists started trying out various things and experimenting in their music videos.
This resulted in some quality works at the time that combined storytelling as fine as aged wine, splendid choreography, and visually appealing special effects that helped them procure even more recognition.
There were many technical aspects behind the production of a music video. Over time, the advancement in technology grew.
People now began to implement various new techniques for filming and adopted methods that were never known before.
Adding special effects and editing the recorded video was also done differently now.
By now, music videos have become something more than a means of entertainment or a tool for promotion.
It now started having a cultural impact on people. Truly this was the golden age for music videos!
With the rise of the internet and digital platforms like YouTube people started to become even more acclimated to the changes happening around them.
Due to the internet being accessible to almost everyone, we saw a sudden shift in people’s preferences.
The Internet became a medium for anything and everything for the people and with it came endless possibilities and opportunities.
The same was the case for music videos.
Artists knew that they could reach a much wider audience with the help of the Internet, so they started shifting from their old, traditional methods to adopting more new and modern techniques.
Modern problems needed modern solutions, and that’s what the artists were trying to do.
To appeal to the new generation, these music videos needed to be unique, something that could leave a mark on people’s minds.
Fortunately, with the help of brand-new tools that came with the coming of the digital age, this was now no longer such a challenging task.
The supposedly unusual out-of-ordinary topic of music videos now became something of a conversation starter.
This is the era that we are currently in, where the idea of music videos has gone through a drastic change.
The introduction of new digital platforms like YouTube and Vevo which come with a much wider reach truly opened up the path to new opportunities for up-and-coming artists.
The music videos produced during this era are diverse with new techniques like animation or motion graphics being implemented to increase the video's visual appeal.
With the coming of various social media platforms, creators usually produce their MV’s while keeping these platforms in mind.
Unlike older times, these videos are much more interactive and can keep the viewers on the edge of their seats wanting more!
You can get fully immersed in the story and maybe feel like you are in the video yourself.
There’s no limit to one’s imagination with today’s technology!
With the help of modern technology, people can resonate with what an artist wants to convey in their music video more clearly than ever.
It will only get better from here!
This topic is highly debatable as this depends on what one considers to be a music video.
Many candidates come to mind whenever a question like this arises.
Some consider “Little Lost Child” by Edward B. Marks and Joe Stern to be the first ever music video which came out in the year 1894 even before soundies existed in the early days of music videos!
A series of still images were projected simultaneously with a live music performance in this music video.
This song eventually became known as an illustrated song, a popular form of entertainment, even today!
On the other hand, there was Tony Bennett’s “Stranger In Paradise” which aired in the 1950s, and many others like Big Bopper's “Chantilly Lace” who is one of the few credited with creating the very first examples of a music video and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” which came in the years 1958 and 1975 respectively.
The question of “who discovered music videos” is a rather tough one to answer!
The concept of music videos, a harmonious blend of auditory and visual artistry, has a multifaceted origin.
Coined by J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson in 1959, the term gained prominence alongside the medium itself.
Tracing back to the 1890s, Thomas Edison’s Kinetophone experiments marked one of the earliest unions of sound and motion pictures.
The transformative year of MTV’s launch propelled music videos into the limelight and established them as a pivotal element of the music industry.
This platform enabled artists to extend their artistic expression visually, amplifying their music’s influence.
The trajectory of music videos has been shaped by collective contributions from artists and directors, reflecting the interplay between evolving technology and artistic innovation.
Today, music videos stand as a testament to this evolution, embodying the essence of contemporary culture and serving as a dynamic medium for creative expression within the music industry.
With the launch of MTV, music videos now for the first time in history began to broadcast on television screens.
This was the first time ever that anyone can watch music videos whenever they want from the comfort of their homes.
Earlier, music videos existed in the form of short clips or promotional videos which hardly anyone batted an eye to!
This all started in the 1980s, when many new faces came up and soon MV’s sort of became a part of culture.
Something that people can talk about any time they want to. A whole generation that loved these kinds of things started to pop out.
Steadily over time, music videos became a part of people’s daily lives. A major credit for this popularity of MV’s goes to MTV.
The overall influence and the power it held was so great that it shaped the production and gave birth to some of the legends that are idolized even to this day.
When all is said and done, we can really look back and appreciate what we have today.
Had it not been for MTV or some major artists' contributions, maybe music videos wouldn’t be as we know it today.
However, everything played out exactly how it was supposed to be and these MV’s became a part of our daily lives.
We can only imagine how it would’ve felt to watch a soundie in an era of war and bloodshed.
Thank you for sticking with us until the end! Look forward to more such interesting articles only on Broadcast2World
No Comments Yet
Let us know what you think