information regarding music videos

In general music videos carry a lot of the same conventions between them. One example of this is that most music videos show the band singing or playing instruments to the song as though they were performing it right at that point. a second convention that would be used is that the music video would either match (run parallel) with the music or going against (be contrapuntal) with the music/ lyrics of a song. The videos may be used as a way to get across messages that an artist intended to get across through his/her song and felt that a visual medium was also needed. A convention of music videos may also be that dancers may be in the video and specially choreographed dance moves may be used to keep the attention of the viewers.

One general use of the music video is to promote awareness of a certain group/artist and to sell their material and usually whether or not a music video is a success or not is based on whether the CD that the song(s) are played sell well. i.e. if a song sells well because of the music being shown to the public then the video is as a success but if a CD sells badly then many blame the music video as its advertisement was not very affective in getting the public to buy it and so is seen as a failure.