Music video and A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: Difference between pages

Revision as of 21:28, 18 September 2005

Revision as of 08:57, 21 June 2007

Line 1:

{{Infobox President

[[Image:KylieMinogueSpinningAroundVideo.jpg|thumb|300px|Kylie Minogue's video to "Spinning Around" (2000)]]

| name=Abdul Kalam

A '''music video''' (also '''video clip''', '''promo''') is a [[short film]] meant to present a visual representation of a [[popular music]] [[song]]. The American [[cable television]] channel [[MTV]] ("Music Television" launched in [[1981]]), originated the format of end-to-end music video programming without any conventional programs, although the music video itself has a history dating back to the earliest days of sound film.

| image=Abdulkalam04052007.jpg

| caption=

| order=11th [[President of India]]

| term_start=[[July 25]], [[2002]]

| final term ends= [[2007]]

| vicepresident=[[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]]

| Prime_Minister=[[Dr. Manmohan Singh]]

| predecessor=[[K. R. Narayanan]]

| successor=[[Incumbent]]

| birth_date={{birth date and age|1931|10|15}}<ref>[http://skumar.mitindia.net/success/apj.htm A Brief Biography of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]</ref>

| birth_place=[[Dhanushkodi]], in [[Rameswaram]], [[Madras Presidency]], <br>[[Image:Imperial-India-Blue-Ensign.svg|22x20px|Flag of British India]]&nbsp;[[British Raj|British India]]

| party= Not affiliated

| spouse= Not Married

| languages spoken=[[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Hindi]], [[English language|English]]

Music videos are primarily a marketing device intended to promote the sale of recordings. [[Alan Durant]] (1984, p.115) has criticized music videos tendency for glittery escapism, musical ''portraiture'', which, "may fix currencies of sounds, but...may also close eyes to music seen more broadly as practice." (Middleton 1990, p.91)

| signature=

|

|}}

'''Abul Pakir Jainulbadeen Abdul Kalam''' ({{lang-ta|அவுல் பகிர் ஜைனுலாப்தீன் அப்துல் கலாம்}} born [[October 15]], [[1931]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]], usually referred to as '''Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam''' [[Indian names#Initials|^]]) is the current [[President of India]]. A notable [[scientist]] and [[engineer]], he is often referred to as the ''Missile Man of India'' for his work and is considered a leading [[progressive]], mentor, innovator and visionary in India.

==Honors==

==History of music videos==

Kalam has received honorary doctorates from thirty universities<ref>http://presidentofindia.nic.in/scripts/thepresident.jsp</ref>, as well as recipient of [[India]]'s three highest civilian honours in order: the [[Padma Bhushan]] in [[1981]]; the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in [[1990]]; and the [[Bharat Ratna]] in [[1997]].

Kalam is the first President of India to have been honoured with a [[Bharat Ratna]] before being elected to the highest office. He is also the first scientist and first bachelor to occupy Rashtrapati Bhawan. He also has the distinction of being the third apolitical figure in the republic's history, to become President of India.<ref>http://www.rediff.com/news/2002/jul/25prez5.htm</ref>

===Early precedents===

[[Sergei Eisenstein]]'s [[1938]] film ''[[Alexander Nevsky (film)|Alexander Nevsky]]'', which features extended scenes of battles choreographed to a score by [[Sergei Prokofiev]], set new standards for the use of music in film and has been described by some as the first music video.

==Political views==

However, the roots of the music video can be found even earlier. In [[1911]] [[Alexander Scriabin]] wrote his [[symphony]] ''Prometheus -- Poem of Fire'' for orchestra and "[[light organ]]". And as far back as the [[1920s]], the animated films of [[Oskar Fischinger]] (aptly labelled "visual music") were supplied with orchestral scores.

Kalam's probable views on certain issues have been espoused by him in his book "[[India 2020]]" where he strongly advocates an action plan to develop India into a knowledge [[superpower]] and into a [[developed nation]] by the year [[2020]]. Kalam is credited with the view that [[India]] ought to take a more assertive stance in international relations; he regards his work on India's [[nuclear weapon]]s program as a way to assert India's place as a future [[superpower]].

Animation pioneer [[Max Fleischer]] introduced a series of sing-along short cartoons called ''[[Screen Songs]]'', which invited audiences to sing along to popular songs by "following the bouncing ball". Early [[1930s]] entries in the series featured popular musicians performing their hit songs on-camera in live-action segments during the [[cartoons]].

Kalam continues to take an active interest in other developments in the field of science and technology as well. He has proposed a research programme for developing [[bio-implants]]. He is a supporter of [[Open source]] [[software]] over proprietary solutions and believes that the use of open source software on a large scale will bring more people the benefits of [[information technology]].

The early animated efforts of [[Walt Disney]], his ''[[Silly Symphony|Silly Symphonies]]'', were built around music. The [[Warner Brothers]] cartoons, even today billed as ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' and ''[[Merrie Melodies]]'', were initially fashioned around specific songs from upcoming Warner Brothers [[musical film]]s. Live action musical shorts, featuring such popular performers as [[Cab Calloway]], were also distributed to theatres.

Kalam's belief in the power of [['''''science''''']] to resolve society's problems and his views of these problems as a result of inefficient distribution of resources is modernistic. He also sees [[science]] and technology as ideology-free areas and emphasizes the cultivation of scientific temper and entrepreneurial drive. In this, he finds a lot of support among India's new business leaders like the founders of [[Infosys]] and [[Wipro]], (leading Indian IT corporations) who began their careers as technology professionals much in the same way Kalam did.

[[Blues]] singer [[Bessie Smith]] appeared in a two-reel short film called ''[[Saint Louis Blues (movie)|Saint Louis Blues]]'' ([[1929]]) featuring a dramatized performance of the hit song. It was shown in theatres until 1932. Numerous other musicians appeared in short musical subjects during this period. Later, in the mid-1940s, musician [[Louis Jordan]] made short films for his songs, some of which were spliced together into a bizarre feature film ''[[Lookout]]''; these films were, according to music historian Donald Clarke, the ancestors of music videos {{ref|LouisJordan}}.

[[Image:Apj lmc.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The President loves interacting with children. Here he is seen on the left talking with the exam toppers of [[La Martiniere Lucknow]]]]

Another early form of music video were one-song films called "Soundies" made in the [[1940s]] for the [[Panoram]] visual [[jukebox]]. These were short films of musical selections, usually just a band on a movie-set bandstand, made for playing. Thousands of Soundies were made, mostly of [[jazz]] musicians, but also torch singers, comedians, and dancers.

==Personal life==

Before the Soundie, even dramatic movies typically had a musical interval, but the Soundie made the music the star and virtually all the name jazz performers appeared in Soundie shorts, many still available on compilation video tapes or DVDs.

Kalam observes strict personal discipline, practicing [[vegetarianism]], [[teetotalism]] and [[celibacy]]. Kalam is a scholar of [[Tirukkural]]; in most of his speeches, he quotes at least one [[kural|''kural'']].

The Panoram jukebox with eight three-minute Soundies were popular in taverns and night spots, but the fad faded during [[World War II]].

Kalam has written several inspirational books, most notably his autobiography ''[[Wings of Fire]]'', aimed at motivating Indian youth. Another of his books, ''[[Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life]]'' reveals his spiritual side. It has been reported that there is considerable demand in [[South Korea]] for translated versions of books authored by him.<ref name="Southkorea1">{{cite web | url = http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=354077 | title = Kalam, the author catching on in South Korea}}</ref>.

== Trivia ==

In [[1940]], [[Walt Disney]] released ''[[Fantasia (movie)|Fantasia]]'', an animated film based around famous pieces of [[classical music]].

{{Trivia|date=June 2007}}

[[Image:Kalam sujatha school photo.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Abdul Kalam and [[Sujatha]] in St.Joseph's College photo]]

<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Abdul Kalam.jpg|right|250px|Dr. Kalam giving a speech during his

==Books==

=== Television era ===

*''[[India 2020]]: A Vision for the New Millennium'' by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Y.S. Rajan (Penguin Books India, 2003) ISBN 0-14-027833-8

*''India-my-dream'' by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Excel Books, 2004) ISBN 81-7446-350-X

*''Envisioning an Empowered Nation: Technology for Societal Transformation'' by A.P.J.Abdul Kalam (TATA McGraw-Hill Publishing Company Ltd, 2004) ISBN 0-07-053154-4

*''[[Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life]]'' by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Arun K Tiwari, (Ocean Books, 2005) ISBN 81-88322-73-3

*'''Biographies'''

**''[[Wings of Fire]]: An Autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam'' by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari (Orient Longman, 1999) ISBN 81-7371-146-1

**''[[Ignited Minds]]: Unleashing the Power Within India'' by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (Penguin Books, 2003) ISBN 0-14-302982-7

**''Scientist to President'' by Abdul A.P.J. Kalam (Gyan Publishing House, 2003) ISBN 81-212-0807-6

**''Eternal Quest: Life and Times of Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam'' by S. Chandra (Pentagon Publishers, 2002) ISBN 81-86830-55-3

**''President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam'' by R. K. Pruthi (Anmol Publications, 2002) ISBN 81-261-1344-8

**''A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: The Visionary of India''' by K. Bhushan, G. Katyal (A.P.H. Pub. Corp, 2002) ISBN 81-7648-380-X

== References ==

The very first short musical films made specifically for television, however, were the [[Snader Telescription]]s, more than 1000 short musical presentations filmed for use as television filler between 1950 and 1954. The Snader Telescriptions covered the entire musical landscape. Although most of them were of conventional pop performers, there were many [[rhythm and blues]], [[jazz]], and [[country music]] performers. Over the years, the Telescriptions have been re-released many times as compilations, such as ''Showtime at the Apollo''.

<references/>

{{wikiquote}}

Other important influences during this period were the youth-oriented films featuring the then-new [[rock and roll]] genre, many of which included performances by noted rock acts like [[Little Richard]]. Among the most influential music-oriented films of this period were ''[[The Blackboard Jungle]]'' and ''[[The Girl Can't Help It]]''.

==External links==

In the [[1960s]], French technology developed for the aerial photography during the war was adapted to create the [[Scopitone]], a modern visual jukebox. The Scopitone was a hit in [[France]] with fairly primitive scenes of bands playing, but when it was introduced into the US, the videos took on a vivid quality, with crooners wandering through crowds of girls in bikinis or "jungle" furs. The Scopitone also was a hit, but involvement of organized crime led to its demise, just as [[rock and roll]] was being revitalized, too late for Scopitone.

* [http://presidentofindia.nic.in/ Website of the President of India] - [http://presidentofindia.nic.in/scripts/presidentprofile.jsp Abdul Kalam's Profile]

* [http://apjabdul-kalam.blogspot.com/ Namaste/Salute For A Visionary]

* [http://www.rediff.com/news/pres2002.htm Rediff Page]

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_2135000/2135439.stm BBC News article on his election]

* [http://www.flonnet.com/fl1913/19130110.htm Frontline article on the Presidential Race and Kalam's election]

*[http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/16646/kalam-the-king-of-many-firsts.html President Abdul Kalam's sortie in a SU-30MKI, journey in a submarine and the visit to Siachin battle field @ IBNlive.com]

* [http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/abdulkalam.htm Abdul Kalam - One Hundred Tamils of 20th Century]

* [http://www.worldofbiography.com/9174%2DAbdul%20Kalam/ - Biography at World Of Biography]

* [http://www.icbs.com/IIT/abdul-kalam-speech.htm I have three visions for India] - Kalam's famous speech that is still passed by [[Chain letter|chain emails]]

{{start box}}

Also in the '60s, the [[light show]] became popular for live performances, combining music with abstract visuals, hearkening back to Scriabin's efforts.

{{incumbent succession box | before = [[K R Narayanan]] | title = [[President of India]] | start=[[July 25]], [[2002]]| }}

{{end box}}

{{IndianPresidents}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalam, Abdul}}

=== Film and video promos ===

[[Category:Presidents of India]]

[[Category:Indian scientists]]

[[Category:ISRO people]]

[[Category:Bharat Ratna recipients]]

[[Category:Padma Bhushan recipients]]

[[Category:Padma Vibhushan recipients]]

[[Category:Indian Muslims]]

[[Category:Tamil scientists]]

[[Category:Indian vegetarians]]

[[Category:1931 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[de:A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]

In [[1956]] [[Tony Bennett]] was filmed walking along [[Serpentine (lake)|The Serpentine]] in [[Hyde Park, London]] as his recording of "[[Stranger in Paradise]]" played; this film was distributed to and played by UK and US television stations, leading Bennett to later claim he made the first music video.

[[et:Abdul Kalam]]

[[el:Αμπντούλ Καλάμ]]

In (1961) Ozzie Nelson filmed and edited the video of TRAVELIN MAN by his son Ricky Nelson. It featured images of various parts of the world mentioned in the Jerry Fuller song and Ricky singing. The very first rock video.

[[eo:Abdul Kalam]]

[[es:Abdul Kalam]]

The pioneering full-colour music video for [[The Exciters]]' "Tell Him" from 1962 greatly influenced all that came afterwards.

[[fr:Abdul Kalam]]

[[gl:Abdul Kalam]]

The defining work in the development of the modern music video was [[The Beatles]]' first major motion picture, ''[[A Hard Day's Night (movie)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' in [[1964 in music|1964]], directed by [[Richard Lester]]. The musical segments in this film arguably set out the basic visual vocabulary of today's music videos, influencing a vast number of contemporary musicians, and countless subsequent pop and rock group music videos.

[[hi:अब्दुल कलाम]]

[[id:Abdul Kalam]]

That same year, The Beatles began filming short promotional films for their songs which were distributed for broadcast on television variety shows in other countries, primarily the [[U.S.A.]] By the time The Beatles stopped touring in late [[1966]] their promotional films, like their recordings, were becoming increasingly sophisticated, and they now used these films to, in effect, tour for them.

[[he:עבדול קאלאם]]

[[kn:ಅಬ್ದುಲ್ ಕಲಾಮ್]]

Also in [[1966]] the clip of [[Bob Dylan]] performing [[Subterranean Homesick Blues]] filmed by [[D A Pennebaker]] was much used. The clip's ironic portrayal of a performance and the seemingly random inclusion of a celebrity ([[Allen Ginsberg]]) in a non-performing role also became mainstays of the form. The clip has been much imitated.

[[nl:Abdul Kalam]]

[[ja:アブドゥル・カラーム]]

The Beatles took the genre to new heights with their groundbreaking films for "[[Strawberry Fields Forever]]" and "[[Penny Lane]]", made in early [[1967 in music|1967]], which used techniques borrowed from underground and avant garde film, such as reversed film effects, dramatic lighting, unusual camera angles and rhythmic editing. Created at the height of the [[psychedelic music]] period, these two landmark films are among the very first purpose-made concept videos that attempt to "illustrate" the song in an artful manner, rather than just creating a film of an idealized performance.

[[no:Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam]]

[[ps:عبدالکلام]]

Other pioneering music videos made during this time include the promotional films made by [[The Doors]]. The group had a strong interest in film, since both lead singer [[Jim Morrison]] and keyboard player [[Ray Manzarek]] had met while studying film at [[UCLA]]. The clip for their debut single "Break On Through" is essentially structured as a filmed performance, but it is notable for its accomplished and atmospheric lighting, camera work and editing. The Doors also directed a superb promotional clip for their controversial 1968 anti-war single "The Unknown Soldier", in which the group stage a mock execution by firing squad. One of the clip's most innovative features is its use of external visuals sources, with extensive intercutting of archival footage and shocking contemporary TV footage of the carnage of the [[Vietnam War]].

[[pl:A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]]

[[ru:Калам, Абдул]]

Although unashamedly based on ''A Hard Day's Night'', the hugely popular American TV series ''[[The Monkees]]'' was another important influence on the development of the music video genre, with each episode including a number of specially-made film segments that were created to accompany the various Monkees songs used in the series.

[[sa:अब्दुल कलाम]]

[[simple:Abdul Kalam]]

When released in [[1968 in music|1968]], the animated film ''[[Yellow Submarine]]'' was an international sensation, although The Beatles themselves had only a tangential involvement with it. Soon it was commonplace for artists to make promotional films, and bands like [[The Byrds]] and [[The Beach Boys]] were also making promotional films. Although these "film clips" were often aired on pop music TV shows, they were still considered as secondary at that time, with live or mimed performances generally given precedence.

[[sk:Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam]]

[[fi:A. P. J. Abdul Kalam]]

The promotional clip continued to grow in importance, with television programs such as ''[[The Midnight Special]]'' and ''[[Don Kirshner's Rock Concert]]'' mixing concert footage with clips incorporating camera tricks, special effects, and dramatizations of song lyrics.

[[sv:Abdul Kalam]]

[[ta:ஏ. பி. ஜே. அப்துல் கலாம்]]

Other important contributions to the development of the genre include the film of the [[Woodstock Festival]], and the various concert films that were made during the early Seventies, most notably [[Joe Cocker]]'s ''[[Mad Dogs And Englishmen]]'' and particularly [[Pink Floyd]]'s groundbreaking ''Live At Pompeii'' concert film, which featured sophisticated rhythmic cross-cutting.

[[te:ఏ.పి.జె.అబ్దుల్ కలామ్]]

[[zh:阿卜杜尔·卡拉姆]]

Many countries with local pop music industries soon copied the trend towards music videos. In [[Australia]] promotional films by Australian pop performers were being made on a regular basis by 1966; among the earliest known are clips by Australian groups [[The Masters Apprentices]] and [[The Loved Ones]].

[[Surf film]] makers such as [[Bruce Brown]], [[George Greenough]] and [[Alby Falzon]] also made important contributions in their films, which featured innovative combinations of images and music, and they notably dispensed with all narration and dialogue for many extended surfing sequences in their films, presenting the surfing action accompanied by suitably atmospheric music tracks.

Alby Falzon's 1972 film ''[[Morning Of The Earth]]'' included a spectacular sequence (filmed by Greenough) that was constructed around the extended [[Pink Floyd]] track "Echoes". The group reportedly agreed to allowed Falzon to use the music ''gratis'', in exchange for a copy of Greenough's footage, which they used during their concerts for several years.

Other notable Australian developments in this field are the early 1970s monochrome promotional films made by Australian musician and filmmaker [[Chris Lofven]], whose clips for the [[Spectrum (band)|Spectrum]] song "I'll Be Gone" and the [[Daddy Cool (band)|Daddy Cool]] song "[[Eagle Rock (song)|Eagle Rock]]" were among the best of the early Australian music video productions. It is notable that Lofven's 1971 clip for "Eagle Rock" bears a strong stylistic resemblance to the video for the 1980 hit "[[Brass In Pocket]]" by [[The Pretenders]], and it has been speculated that original bassist [[Pete Farndon]] may well have seen the Lofven clip when he was working in Australia in the mid-1970s as a member of [[The Bushwackers]].

The first promo clip to combine all the elements of the modern music video is [[David Bowie]]'s promotional clip for the song ''[[The Jean Genie]]'', which was released as single in late [[1972]] at the height of Bowie's [[Ziggy Stardust]] period. Filmed and directed by renowned photographer [[Mick Rock]], this genre-defining four-minute film was produced for less than $350, shot in one day in [[San Francisco]] on 28th October 1972, and edited in less than two days.

The Swedish music group, ABBA, used promotional films throughout the 1970's to promote themselves in other countries when travelling or touring abroad became difficult. Almost all of these videos were directed by ''Chocolat'' and ''My Life as a Dog'' director, [[Lasse Hallström]].

In [[1975]] [[Queen (band)|Queen]] released a promo video for "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" directed by [[Bruce Gowers]], when they were unable to make a personal appearance on '''[[Top of the Pops]]'''. Considered a landmark in music video, it featured the complete visual grammar of today's music promos. Videos also found distribution through the early laserdisc format. Other notable contributions came from avant-garde bands such as [[The Residents]] and [[Devo]] and cult performers such as original Monkees member [[Michael Nesmith]].

=== Modern era ===

[[Image:TakeOnMe.jpg|thumb|300px|[[a-ha]]'s video to "Take On Me" (1985)]]

The key innovation in the development of the modern music video was of course [[video]] recording and editing processes, along with the development of a number of related effects such as [[chroma-key]]. The advent of high-quality colour videotape recorders and portable video cameras coincided with the DIY ethos of the [[New Wave]] era and this enabled many pop acts to produce promotional videos quickly and cheaply, in comparison to the relatively high costs of using film. However, as the genre developed music video directors increasingly turned to 35mm film as the preferred medium, while others mixed film and video. By the mid-1980s releasing a music video to accompany your new single had become standard, and acts like [[The Jacksons]] sought to gain a commercial edge by creating lavish music videos with multi-million dollar budgets.

Some of the first American music videos of the modern era were produced by [[The Monkees|ex-Monkee]] [[Michael Nesmith]] who started making short musical films for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' in 1979. In 1981, he released ''[[Elephant Parts]]'', the first video album and first winner of a [[Grammy]] for music video. A further experiment on [[NBC]] television called ''[[Television Parts]]'' was not successful, due to network meddling (notably an intrusive [[laugh track]] and corny gags). The early self-produced music videos by [[Devo]], including the pioneering compilation "The Truth About Devolution" were also important (if somewhat subversive) developments in the evolution of the genre and these Devo video cassette releases were arguably among the first true long-form video productions.

In the UK the importance of ''[[Top of the Pops]]'' to promote a single created an environment of innovation and competition amongst bands and record labels as the show's producers placed strict limits on the number of videos it would use - therefore a good video would increase a song's sales as viewers hoped to see the video again the following week. David Bowie scored his first UK number one in nearly a decade thanks to the eye catching promo for "[[Ashes to Ashes]]". Another act to succeed from this tactic was "[[Madness]]" who shot on 16mm and 35mm short micro-comedic films.

"''[[Top of the Pops]]''" was censorus in its approach to video content so another approach was for an act to produce a promo that would be banned or edited and so use the resulting controversy and publicity to promote the release. Early examples of this tactic were [[Duran Duran]]'s "Girls on Film" and [[Frankie Goes to Hollywood]] with "Relax".

Although little acknowledged outside Australia, it is arguable that the 1970s-1980s Australian TV pop show ''[[Countdown (TV show)|Countdown]]'' -- and to a lesser extent its commercial competitors ''[[Sounds (TV show)|Sounds]]'' and ''[[Nightmoves (TV show)|Nightmoves]]'' -- were important precursors to MTV.

''Countdown'', which was based on ''[[Top Of The Pops]]'', hit of in Australia but other countries quickly followed the format. At its highpoint during most of the 1980s it was to be aired in 22 countries including TV Europe. In 1978 the Dutch TV-broadcasting company Veronica started a Dutch version of Countdown which during the 80s had Adam Curry as its best known presenter. Countdown is still aired in the UK up till today as CD:UK by ITV <http://www.cduk.com/home.php>. The program gained international significance in the recording industry in the late 1970s and early 80s. Produced on a shoestring by the government-owned [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] national TV network, its low budget, and Australia's distance proved to be influential factors in the show's early preference for music video. The relative rarity of visits by international artists to Australia and the availability of high-quality, free promotional films meant that ''Countdown'' soon came to rely heavily on music videos in order to feature such performers.

The show's talent coordinator [[Ian Meldrum]] and his producers quickly realised that these music videos were becoming an important new commodity in music marketing. For the first time, pre-produced music videos gave TV the opportunity to present pop music in a format that rivalled or even exceed the impact of radio airplay, and it was soon apparent that ''Countdown'' could single-handedly break new pop acts and new songs by established artists -- a role that up until then been the exclusive preserve of [[radio]].

Although ''Countdown'' continued to rely heavily on 'live' appearances by local and visiting acts, competing shows like ''Sounds'' lacked the resources to present regular studio performances, so they were soon using music videos almost exclusively. As the Eighties progressed, the ability to use music videos to give bands the best possible presentation saw record companies making more, and more lavish, promotional videos.

In 1980 New Zealand group [[Split Enz]] had major success with the single "I Got You" and the album ''True Colours'', and later that year they became one of the first bands in the world to produce a complete set of music videos for each song on the album and to market these on video cassette -- the so-called [[video album]]. This was followed a year later by the first American video album, ''The Completion Backwards principle'' by ''[[The Tubes]]''.

Realising the potential of music video, ''Countdown'' negotiated a controversial deal with local record labels, giving them first refusal and a period of exclusive use for any new video that came into the country, and with its nationwide reach and huge audience, Countdown was able to use music videos to break a number of important new local and overseas acts, notably [[ABBA]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Meat Loaf]], [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]], [[Devo]], [[Cyndi Lauper]] and [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]]. This early success in Australia in turn enabled these acts to gain airplay and TV exposure and score breakthrough hits in their home countries.

During the 1980s promotional videos became pretty much ''de rigueur'' for most recording artists, a rise which was famously parodied by [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[BBC]] television comedy program ''[[Not The Nine O'Clock News]]'' who produced a spoof music video; "Nice Video, Shame About The Song". [[Frank Zappa]] also parodied the excesses of the genre in his satirical song "Be In My Video".

As a response to this ubiquity some acts began to produce longform videos that were also released direct to video. Two notable examples were [[Michael Jackson]]'s "Thriller" directed by [[John Landis]] and David Bowie's "Blue Jean" directed by [[Julian Temple]]. In both cases the performance of the song is bookended by a narrative sequence.

A ''non-representational'' music video is one in which the musical artist is never shown. Because music videos are mainly intended to promote the artist, such videos are rare; two early 1980s examples however are [[Bruce Springsteen]]'s "Atlantic City" and [[David Bowie]]/[[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "Under Pressure".

=== MTV ===

In [[1981]], the [[United States|U.S.]] video channel [[MTV]] launched, beginning an era of 24-hour-a-day music on television. (The first video broadcast was "[[Video Killed the Radio Star]]", by [[The Buggles]].) With this new outlet for material, the music video would, by the mid-1980s, grow to play a central role in popular music marketing. Many important acts of this period, most notably [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], owed a great deal of their success to the skilful construction and seductive appeal of their videos. Some academics have compared music video to [[silent film]], and it is suggested that stars like Madonna have (often quite deliberately) constructed an image that in many ways echoes the image of the great stars of the silent era such as [[Greta Garbo]]. Although many see MTV as the start of a "golden era" of music videos and the unparalleled success of a new artform in popular culture, others see it as hastening the death of the true musical artist, because physical appeal is now critical to popularity to an unprecedented degree.

In the [[information technology]] era, music videos now approach the popularity of the songs themselves, being sold in collections on [[video tape]] and [[DVD]]. Enthusiasts of music videos sometimes watch them muted purely for their aesthetic value. Instead of watching the video for the music, (the basis for the artform), the videos are appreciated for their visual qualities, while viewers remain uninterested in the [[audio]] portion of the performance. This is a normal [[sociological]] reaction, some say, to the increasing trend in the [[music business]] to focus on visual appeal of artists, rather than the quality of the music. Critics say that the [[corporate]] music managers, over the course of logical and calculated business decisions, have sought to capitalize on the [[sex appeal]] of females in music videos rather than in choosing less profitable musicianship-based music.

=== Internet ===

With the advent of easy distribution over the internet, a number of fan-created videos began appearing in the late 1990s and continuing into the next century. These are typically made by synchronizing existing footage from other sources with the song, often from television series or movies. Most commonly the source material is drawn from [[anime]] (''see [[anime music video]]'') but also including American animation series. Since neither the music nor the film footage is typically licensed, distributing these videos is usually [[copyright infringement]] on both counts. However, it is typically the owners of film footage who file lawsuits, particularly large American corporations who fear dilution of their characters (such as [[Charlie Brown]]) by such unlicensed videos.

== Timeline ==

[[Image:DAREVideo.jpg|right|223px||thumb|[[Gorillaz]] - "[[DARE]]" (2005)]]

*1941: A new invention hits clubs and bars in the USA: The Panoram Soundie is a [[jukebox]] that plays short videoclips along with the music.

*1956: Hollywood discovers the genre of music-centered films. A wave of rock'n'roll films begins (''Rock Around the Clock'', ''Don't Knock the Rock'', ''Shake, Rattle and Rock'', ''Rock Pretty Baby'', ''[[The Girl Can't Help It]]''), and the famous [[Elvis Presley]] movies. Some of these films integrated musical performances into a story, others were simply revues.

*1960: In France a re-invention of the Soundie, the Scopitone gains limited success.

*1962: British Television invents a new form of music television. Shows like ''[[Top Of The Pops]]'', ''[[Ready Steady Go!|Ready! Steady! Go!]]'' and ''Oh, Boy'' started as band vehicles and became huge hits.

*1964: The US-Television market adapts the format. ''Hullabaloo'' is one of the first US shows of this kind, followed by ''Shindig!'' (NBC) and ''American Bandstand''; The Beatles star in ''[[A Hard Day's Night]]''

*1966: The first conceptual promos are aired, for the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and "Rain". Early in 1967, even more ambitious videos are released for "Penny Lane" and "Strawberry Fields Forever".

*1970: The record industry discovers these TV-Shows as a great opportunity to promote their artists. They focus on producing short "Promos", early music videos which started to replace the live performance of the artist on the TV-stage.

*1975: "[[Bohemian Rhapsody]]" released by [[Queen (band)|Queen]].

*1981: [[MTV]], the first 24-hour satellite music channel, launches. Initially few [[cable television|cable TV]] operators carry it, but it rapidly becomes a major hit and cultural icon.

*1995: MTV begins to credit music video directors.

*1996: ''[[Pop-up Video]]'' is first aired on [[VH1]].

*1996: [[M2]] is launched as a 24-hour music video channel.

*2000: [[M2]] is renamed to [[MTV2]] is launched to focus on music videos as MTV has largely substituted them with other content.

*2002: [[MTV Hits]] is launched as MTV2 slowly starts showing less music videos.

*2005: [[MTV2]] reformats station with new two-headed dog logo, with 12-24 year old guys as main demographic.

==Music video stations==

Here are some of the most popular music video stations from around the world:

*[[Black Entertainment Television|Black Entertainment Television (BET)]]

*[[C4TV]]

*[[Channel V]]

*[[Fuse (television)|FUSE]]

*[[MTV]]

**[[MTV Canada]]

**[[MTV Europe]]

*[[MuchMusic]]

**[[MuchMoreMusic]]

*[[Music 24]]

*[[Musique Plus]]

*[[TMF]]

*[[VH1]]

*[[VIVA]]

*[[ZTV]]