Friday, 27 November 2009

History of the music video- part 3

In 1974 Australian TV shows such as Countdown and Sounds increased popularity and distribution, promoting the music video in establishing them as a successful marketing tool. As these programs grew in popularity other countries picked up on the format.

In the late 1970s long-running British TV show Top of the Pops began playing music videos to keep up with its competition. The BBC had strict limits on how many promotional videos they could air. This was part of the clever marketing so to see a good video again viewers would have to get it in the charts.
In 1981 MTV started broadcasting in America and bought a new significance to music video productions. MTV was broadcasting 24 hours a day and constantly depended on the quick production of music videos, this made making a music video much more important for the success of the artist and artist careers were greatly influenced as image became vital. MTV has certainly left a legacy and is praised for creating an exciting fresh era in music and music distribution. Critics consider it as a n end to true musical talent as an artist success depended more upon their image rather than the musical talent.

Styles evolved and the music video became more creative, there were a wide range of styles from non-representational form (without the artist) to traditional musical style plots. 1983 the most successful music video of all time was released for Michael Jackson's song ‘Thriller’. The video set new standards and the fact the song is so popular shows how influential music videos were and how wide stream distribution had became.

MTV used horizontal integration and divided its business in to different channels and demographics and launched VH1, MTV Europe and MTV Asia in 1991. In 1986 The Chart Show UK's Channel 4 was launched. This program consisted entirely of music videos, the videos were linked by computer graphics and was the first of its kind in the UK.

In the 21st century MTV and its many sister channels mainly abandoned showing music videos and gave way to the new trend of reality television. Most music videos are now viewed on the internet particularly after the 2005 release video website YouTube making music videos easier to view.
As the internet community grew bands had a new format to promote their videos, OK Go are a good example of how the comedic, home made feel could achieve widespread fame.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv5zWaTEVkI

The 2008 video for Weezer's ‘Pork and Beans’ made good use of the internet community making their video with help at least 20 YouTube ‘celebrities’. Music has also been promoted on YouTube by live performances, interviews and unofficial, fan-made music videos making the band feel more accessible and friendly.

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI

‘You-Tubers’ meaning the vloggers (video blog) of the site have also been able to create their own music and easily showcase their talent to a wide audience. You tube celebrities who have managed to do this include Tay Zonday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA&NR=1

and large scale vlogger collaboration and Christmas charity song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwTZ2xpQwpA&NR=1

Despite this burst of creativity the fact remains a large amount of pop music videos are used for marketing and critics have been known to complain that music videos imprint prefabricated images which can powerfully influence our own imaginings particularly those listening with a tentative feeling about their own interpretations. Some videos can enforce and strengthen the lyrics and meaning of the song.

As music videos have developed they’re status as an art form has been debated, it is true that most music videos are seen as a marketing tool and they are descendants of the ‘promotional videos. The music video has been used to embody everything from fashion, lifestyle and style to charity, celebration and creativity, it has tackled everything from girl power, money, patriotism, dancing, death, life and love so surely it is an art form! Thanks to the diversity of the internet and the creativity and diversity from artists they still do all of this.

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