History of the Music Video

This is an essay of the history of a music video. By making this it has helped me understand the music video history and how they have influenced the making of music videos today.

For this project I am going to research the music video industry, this will help me have the knowledge which will help me develop and create my own music video.

• In 1900, Edison invented the gramophone which was able to record live music onto discs.

Oscar Fischinger was the first person to use a visual production to promote a song and try and sell it. For example, his film 'Get it at your local store' was displayed suggesting advertising for the music track heard by the audience. The relationship between visual material and music can be traced back to the 1920's in Fischinger's abstract synchronizations and visual interpretations.

• 1927, the first film with sound was produced which was titled 'The Jazz Singer'.

• 1930's came the creation of musicals and the introduction of Panoram.

Artists like Billie Holiday and Bing Crosby were showcased using 8-10 minute films at cinema screenings.

• 1939-1946, the Panoram became very popular, it was a video jukebox in bars, and weighed about 2 tons with a 20 inch screen, which played a reel of 8, 16mm shorts.

• The 1940's were the golden age of Hollywood musicals.
• 1950's - 1960's brought live music performances on TV shows like Top of the Pops, Monkees' TV show, and the Beatles release a movie.

1960, the Scorpitone was produced in France which showed 36 short films in colour. These short films were song and dance performances with a lot of female display which was very popular. by 1965, 1000 machines were in American bars. The close up shots were often on the pornographic border which to me, has influenced the music videos today.

The Scorpitone wasn't popular to the end of the 1960's because of the competition from TV channels.

American music had a lack of material in comparison to British groups, so Music TV produced a promo based program for Nickelodeon to show both British and American clips.

MTV grew when American artists realised the potential of the music video market. High profile artists like Madonna helped to make what music videos are like today with the emphasis on performance, image, choreography and close ups.

• The increase of promotional videos started in the late 1970’s, mainly produced by Michael Nesmith, and in 1975 Queen released a song called ‘Bohemian Rhapsody, as it was thought to boost sales. By making music videos, the industry realised short videos boosted sales and therefore started to make more and more to make a profit.

• In 1977 Saturday Night fever featured on TV.

1981, first pop clips are shown on Nickelodeon in which MTV begins to Broadcast. The first song to be played was ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’, which again, put the record to the top of the charts, making a very good income.

• The first music video to be banned was by MTV and the BBC, the video was called ‘Girls on Film’ by Duran Duran in 1981; this is because it contained nudity, which isn’t suitable for young children.

• The release of ‘Thriller’ made Michael Jackson the creator of the first 13 minute short film, meaning his music video had a beginning, middle and end. This formation of the first short film took music videos to another level as it included futuristic special effects and was also widely known for its dance routine, which is still remembered nearly 30 years on.

• The Music Box begins in Europe, MTV Video music awards are launched.
• 1985, VH1 begins which targeted older audiences and MTV are taken over by Viacom.
• 1987, MTV Europe began which brought in larger demographics, opening up the rock music video market to include other genres'.

• MTV began airing lifestyle programs such as Unplugged and The Real World, the increase in diversified entertainment made way for non- white music videos.

• Late 1980's, image was the key factor in artists promotion and music promotion videos became important for artists.

• The music video ‘Smack my bitch up’ by The Prodigy was banned due to nudity and drug use. I watched this video on YouTube and didn’t see any nudity until the end. In this day and age many music videos do contain sections of nudity therefore I don’t think it is as bad anymore. However, nearer the end there was too much nudity so I understand why they banned this music video.

  
  

The picture above shows that Youtube will only let you watch it if your over 18.

In my opinion, the whole music industry realised early on that music videos are very popular and therefore are now made just for promoting the artists and also making a profit. This is because all Music video history I have researched, in books and on the internet discusses the profit the music industry makes from music videos.