Industrial Context: A Brief History of Music Videos

 A Brief History of Music Videos: 

The earliest developments of ‘the music video’ can be pinpointed towards eras such as the 1960s where notable musicians such as The Beatles and Bob Dylan televised visual media content alongside their music. The Beatles created a short promotional video for their feature length film ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ and Dylan’s 1966 track ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues’ has become well-known for its accompanying video. 

However, the industrialisation of ‘the music video’ did not occur until the 1980’s when the television channel ‘MTV’ was established, premiering its first video in 1981. MTV used to play a constant 24-hour stream of music videos and was seen as a very convenient platform for promoting bands and musicians. Micheal Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ changed the game in the music video industry as a 13-minute short film surrounding the 80’s pop hit. This was incredibly successful and influenced the rise in narrative-based music videos over performance-based content. 

In the 2000s, the arrival of digital platforms such as YouTube allowed artists to upload visual media content alongside their music for free, with the accessibility to reach a global audience. Technological advancements also meant musicians could create music videos more easily, initiating a rise in music video popularity. YouTube has since collaborated with media company VEVO, transferring their catalogue of music videos across the platforms. 

Nowadays, although many music video channels exist and are easily found on digital streaming sites, their impact on an artist's success is limiting as listening to music online is much more accessible.