The history of music videos

The music video was initially for the band to create some sort of connection with the audience, the first band who considered this where 'The Beatles,' who where so famous at the time, the only way for their fans to see them perform when they where not touring was through their feature film: 'A Hard Days Night.' This featured the band performing their songs within a documentary style film. The documentary black and white film, was personal for the audience as they got to see their favorite band up close and personal without the interfering other fans. Also, in the 60s the idea of traveling to see the band in concert was usually too expensive and too difficult to see through therefore through this film, the audience can feed their voyeuristic pleasure as well as get up close and personal with the band.





In the 1970s Top of the pops was created. This show at first just featured music videos, and was also the first television programme to realise how much music videos could influence a songs sales status. David Bowie scored his first UK number one in almost a decade thanks to his music video 'Ashes To Ashes,' as in order for Top Of The Pops to show the same video the next week the song had to dominate the charts with success; thus the audience would rapidly purchase the song so they had the chance of seeing the eye catching promo.






In 1981, MTV was launched in America. This was the first 24 hour a day music video channel, airing 'Video Killed The Radio Star.' Through the first 5 years of this launch, music videos became a crucial part in popular music marketing. Madonna and Adam and the Ants owe a lot of their success to the skillful construction and seductive appeal to their videos. Music videos allowed artists to market a certain image of themselves, artists such as Madonna created a controversial, seductive image which proved a success due to all the attention from media which surrounded and highlighted her as an artist.



And in 1984 'The Chart Show' was launched on Channel 4. This focused all attention on the number one spot in the musical charts. This was branched from the idea of BBC's Top Of The Pops where people would purchase the song mainly to see the artist's video in the later weeks on the programme. In 1986, Peter Gabriel's song 'Sledgehammer' used special effects and animation techniques in his music video. This video at the time won 9 MTV video music awards.

In the period of the 80s, directors and artists began to explore different genres including more sophisticated effects, mixing film and video and adding a storyline or plot to the music video. This made the video much more interesting and appealing to watch: thus creating a lot of media attention.



However with the rise of more high tech equipment and pressure to gain more and more media attention in order for your song to make position #1 in the charts, videos started to become more and more controversial. This had positives and negatives surrounding the controversy:

Positive: The video would have created a media storm of attention, with the video being discussed on News programmes and talk shows, it would have had articles written about it within newspapers and magazines, thus people where highly eager to hear this song and see the controversial music video.

Negative: This video could result in being band from being shown on television therefore not receive as much attention, if made too controversial which could damage the sales of the record in shops.

Song which have been famously banned include:

Cher- If I Could Turn Back Time. For performing in an 'extremely revealing body suit surrounded by a ship full of sailors.'

Olivia Newton-John - Physical. For including only men having a work out session in only short shorts, and resulting in the male models walking of in pairs holing hands. 'Banned for nudity and homosexual references'

Madonna - Justify My Love. Was banned for its 'depiction of sadomasochism, homosexuality, cross dressing and group sex'



Consequently, music videos play a very important role within artists Careers. MTV has been heavily criticised, some saw the channel for being the beginning an an amazing, new, fresh era in music. Others have considered the channel to mark the end of true musical talent and artists have become more more appreciated for their looks instead of their vocal abilities.
Nowadays, the music video can be deemed as important as the song itself. Collections of music videos are being sold on DVDs, they can even be purchased digitally to download from Itunes. This type of promotion for the artists have inspired a new type of directors: Video Directors, with MTV being one of the first to identify and praise their talents by the VMAs awarding 'moon-men' awards to wining directors and artists who are creative and strong within this category.