purposes of music videos

Purposes of the music video are wide but mainly to focus on certain factors, like...

• Advertisement- to show off the band and help them credit each member of the group.
• Appeal- to make the song more appealing and make people more likely to buy their album.
• Emphasise- to make the meaning of the song more prominent and get across the point.
• Educate- to show the viewer what kind of band they are.
• Illustrate- showing the viewer what the lyrics are saying if they might be slightly unclear.
• Industry standard- it is now the norm to have a music video, and unusual not to.

Andrew Godwin identifies 6 elements of music videos...

1. Showing genre characteristics.
2. Lyrics and images have a common link.
3. the tome of the atmosphere represents in the music or visa versa.
4. commonly used close ups to show the artist.
5. notions of looking are often used.
6. intertextual references are common.

These purposes of music videos are the guidelines for the industry and how most of the products they create are portrayed, these stereotypes can however be useful; they provide a structure that the audience are used to and feel comfortable with.