1. In 1981, MTV was the original start-up
company for music videos. Despite
launching as a 24/7 music television
channel, in I Want My MTV: The
Uncensored Story of the Music Video
Revolution, MTV was still made to go to
record labels and ask them to make these
videos for free.
History of music Video
2. In the new modern era, TV is in decline
and it’s taking MTV along with it – in
2015, Nielsen Data suggested the
channel had lost 40% of their 12-34 year
old audience. This was due to new
technologies bringing other social media
and new online music streaming
websites and apps like; YouTube, Spotify,
ITunes music, Apple music. These new
technologies allow people to stream
music on their phones without the
music video.
History of music Video
3. History of music Video
The Beatles were eager to give their fans the best audio-visual experience possible.
They did this by recording promotional clips that could be shown around the world.
The Beatles made promotional clips throughout their stardom. Other bands followed
their ideas through the ’60s and ’70s.
David Bowie did this by releasing the video for “Space Oddity” in 1969.
Probably the most significant music video of this era was Queen’s “Bohemian
Rhapsody,” which debuted in 1975.
4. MTV (1981)
Launching with The Buggles’ video “video killed the radio star”, which had first aired two years
previously on Top of the Pops. The message of The Buggles’ hit is that advances in technology
could pre-empt a cultural shift.
Quickly, Madonna, Michael Jackson began to dominate the technological side of the music
industry (music videos).
Michael Jacksons “Thriller” had high production values and was the beginning for what we
recognize as music videos for major artists today. He spent over $500,000 on the production of
the music video, incorporating big Hollywood directors like John Landis.
3 years later, Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” video (1986) won nine awards at the MTV Music
Awards in 1987. This video was and still is, the most watched video on the music channel EVER.
History of music Video
5. Visual album
Musicians today understand the need to create “events” around their albums, to attempt to
capture the modern digital audience through “word of mouth” ect. This is why we are dealing
with so many “without warning” release albums.
Beyoncé released the first visual album in 2013. This album release was surprising to a wide
audience. Not only did Beyoncé release without warning, but every song in the album had its
own personal video. Every video dropped the same day as the full CD album did.
History of music Video
6. 1895: The “first” music video was filmed at Thomas Edison’s studio
In the film, William Dickson (the videos investor), plays music from a popular operetta
on a violin while two men dance beside him. The soundtrack was recorded separately
on a wax cylinder. Intended primarily as a test, the “Dickson Experimental Sound Film”
was not released to the public.
History of music Video
7. • 1930 – Musical Films were introduced
• 1940 – Promotional clips which involved short films aired on TV to promote
specific genres of music
• 1956 – TV rose above music, threatening the musical industry
• 1965 – the Beatles used promotional films to kick start the albums fame.
• 1983 – the release of “thriller” the largest and one of the most popular music
videos EVER.
• 1985 – the release of “scream” cost 7 million to produce. Making it the most
expensive video EVER produced.
• 2005 – YouTube was released. People were able to watch videos for free online.
• 2010 – The first online Music video to reach 1 billion views on YouTube. (Lady
Gaga “pokerface”)
History of music Video
TIMELINE OF MUSIC HISTROY
