RESEARCH - What is the function of a music video?

We enjoy them, but what is their purpose?

Back in MTV's (Music Television's) launch on August 1st 1981, the broadcasting of the first music videos ever produced came as a shock to all music, TV, and multimedia lovers as it combined video and audio together to create overall viewing pleasure.

Here is the original broadcasting of the amazing 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles (the band responsible for putting their lyrics into a story and starting this phenomenon).

However, time and technology has evolved and today music videos are small products that are produced so very frequently by many artists, that the status has slipped into something that is simply expected and taken for granted by the audience. Therefore, the actual purposes and meanings of music videos are things that are overlooked, many are oblivious to the reasons why artists execute these 3 minutes of performance...

A music videos' function is to...

• (Obviously) Create entertainment for the viewer, through performance
• To highlight talents of the artist - create a fan base (promote gigs)
• To make the song memorable - encourage audience investment
•  To promote the song - promote whole album
• Provide viewer with better understanding of the song by telling story (video+audio) - engage & relate

Overall: the purpose is to SELL both the artist and their material!