Research Into Industry

How are music videos generally made? What is the production process?

Music videos are generally made depending on their type or style.

- Performance videos are made with the band/artist with either lip syncing or playing along with the music. Song is played through large speakers allowing the artist to play along.

- Narrative videos are much more complex. The creative director will need to be thinking of a concept meanwhile the narrative will need to correspond with the song itself.

What is the purpose of a music video for the companies/artists that make them?

The main purpose of a music video is to promote the artist and their new song while entertaining the audience.

They might also be created as a music marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings

Adding up, music videos also form a large part of an artist's general creative vision and output. A video connects an artist and a listener, as well as connecting a listener to an audience.

Who are some famous music video directors and why are their videos so successful ?

- David Fincher filmed Madonna's "Express yourself" and "Vogue"

- Melina Matsoukas filmed "We found love" and "Formation"

- Michel Gondry is noted for his inventive visual style and distinctive manipulation of

mise en scene

How much money is usually spent on the average music video? Have any been made very cheaply or are there any that have had huge budgets?

Music Video production costs can easily range from $20,000 - $1M or more, but the typical budget is far below that. Many artists are able to produce quality music videos in the $2,000 - $20,000 range.

Budget directly affects the end result. At the lower end of the range, the video will probably be a single location, outdoors or indoors at a venue that is not a professional studio or built set, will probably be a single cameraman, no special effects, no fancy props, etc.

At the higher end of this range the video could include professional models, professional dancers, multiple locations, aerial drone video, makeup artist, hairstylists, lighting and equipment assistants.

How do audiences access music videos? Where can they be seen?

Television - It remains one of the key ways for audiences to access music videos. Channels are dedicated to broadcasting music videos with different genres to cater the mass audience. Popular channels like MTV remain part of the driving force of keeping music videos current.

YouTube - Since its launch in 2005, YouTube has been one of the leading sources of viewing music videos. Independent and major record artists as well as freelance artists have been able to enjoy the free service to launch their music videos to an expectant audience.

YouTube is available in over 79 countries in the world which presents a large viewing audience.

"Gangnam style" by PSY has gained the most views ever on the site with over 2.4 billion views since its release in 2012.

ITunes - is a well known segment of Apple. They sell singles, albums, TV programs and movies at a fee. This fee singles out a niche audience that are prepared to pay the prices. The most successful music videos for ITunes came from Beyonce's self-titled album that featured 17 music videos which fans were eager to purchase.

Music video success will depend on the platform on which they are shared on. Free streaming services like YouTube and Vimeo continue to increase their audience base which helps artists build up their brands and images.