The Purpose Of Music Videos

The purpose of this essay is to find out what the purpose of music videos are.

The first music video was for the song bohemian rhapsody by queen, the purpose of a music video is primarily to make more money, but I have heard some people talk about music videos for their shock factors in the past… for example rudimental’s song waiting all night I’ve heard multiple people speaking about people getting run over by a truck which is featured in this music video, which worked because I then watched the music video in dis-belief. So overall music videos are for money.

The promotion of the artists is done through the music video itself, not only because we see the band playing live music, but also because they might have used their own logo on their drums or t-shirts. On television the name of the song is displayed on the bottom of the screen somewhere showing the artists name the album name and the song name, occasionally the record label will have put their name on their also, pushing their name, (drive thru records etc.) in some of the bigger names (lady gaga) she has had the producers name also put on the video, the bigger the producer/director the better connections e.g. the “pussy wagon” from kill bill appears in lady Gaga’s music video.

Producers market artists in different ways, for example RAGC, is portrayed in a more softer approach, where as other bands like slayer are portrayed a much more savage image, this is done to attract a much different demographic for different genres of music, this can make you more money in the long run, as you can create a fashion statement or even attract more bands to come and make the same genre of music and include them on your record label.

Because you are not just hearing your favourite bands you are also seeing them, this will throw more money toward the record labels and music tv stations such as ‘scuzz’ and kerrang etc. because every time a song is played the band receives royalties, so if you are also showing music videos and people are seeing them they will get double the amount of royalties.

Bands can make loads of more money by their material be accessed, by the internet by soundcloud, bandcamp, youtube, deezer, spotify, and itunes, and all of these are available through mobile internet, obviously if you had a radio station you can download and play these songs on it. More platforms means more potential revenue for the bands. The problems with all of this are, piracy, everythings easier and cheaper to get these days off the internet, the more stuff there is online on these sites, the more you have to sift through and find what you were looking for. Big names may also be put first.

Synergy is when two or companies make deals to sell more products and make more money. With the market you can pay to get your act involved with another business (Disney) (Hannah Montana) for example Hannah Montana which is now owned by a Disney corporation will contract out their trademark for use with other companies for use with merchandising. For example Hannah Montana birthday cakes and lampshades.

Music videos are massively popular because more and more people want to see their favourite bands ideas behind stuff, etc. not only that but sometimes you get some live footage, which allows you to see your favourite bands footage on stage. Not only this, but youtube has become a hive for upcoming musicians such as rebbeca black and Justin beiber and OK GO!