This is a presentation of the history of music videos starting from the 19th century up until the present day.

1. HISTORY OF MUSIC VIDEOS

2. 19TH CENTURY
The success and popularity of music videos started
off with the launch of MTV, 31 years ago but people
may be surprised to find out that the timeline of
music videos goes back to the late 19th century. The
first music video was filmed in 1895 at Thomas
Edison’s studio. It was made for a Kinetoscope.
This is where the viewer would look into a peep
hole and watch a motion picture which would be
accompanied with sound. The sound and picture
were made synchoronous as they would be
connected by a belt.

3. 19TH CENTURY CARRIED ON
- In the 1920s, a theater in New York (Rivoli
Theater) presented the first motion picture with
sound on film, this synchronised movies and
there soundtracks.
- In the 1940s, jukeboxes played soundies. Soundies
were three minute films featuring music and dance
performances by the era’s greatest talents from
jazz singers and swing dancers. They were played
in bars, restaurants and other public places.
- In the 1960s, The Beatles used the power of film to
promote their records. They starred in full length
features such as “Help” and “A Hard Days Night”. Rock and roll bands in
the late 1960s and 70s started to follow their lead by releasing promo films.
- In the 1970s, music programs premiered in Austrailia
(such as “Countdowns” and “Sound”). They featured music videos
and created a large following which spread to other countries.
In 1978, three years before MTV, an American program called
“Video Concert Hall” showed unhosted music videos everyday.

4. - MTV first launched in 1981 and the first music
video they aired was by the Buggles called “Video
MTV
Killed The Radio Star” : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8r-
tXRLazs
- In there early days they aired basic music videos
that were introduced by video jockeys. They were
provided for free by record companies and as a
result, MTV was valued as a promotional vehicle.
Directors of music videos including Spike Jonze
and Michel Gondry worked on music videos before
going into feature films.
- In the 1980s MTV was a huge part of promoting careers of
artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, Prince and more.
By the late 1980s MTV started to debut reality TV series’,
documentaries, game shows and then launched the MTV
Music Video Awards followed by the MTV Movie Awards.

5. THRILLER – MICHAEL JACKSON
Michael Jackson’s Thriller video is seen to be the most
influential pop video of all time. It is a 13 minute and 43
second music video which had a huge effect on pop
culture and sold over 9 million units:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA
Also, Michael Jackson’s music
video “Scream” was the most
expensive music video
ever.

6. VH1
In 1985 VH1 was launched. This music channel
featured soft music and had a target audience of
an older demographic which widened the audience
of people who enjoyed watching music videos.
There original purpose was to build on the success
of MTV by playing music videos but they then also
started playing reality TV shows.

7. YOUTUBE
YouTube is a website introduced in 2005 which
allows people to watch videos online. Users can
upload, share and view videos which has increased
the popularity of them. For example, Lady Gaga’s
music video of “Poker Face” has 375 million views
alone and her other music videos have previously
reached one billion views. Also, there are 34 billion music
videos YouTube with 183 million viewers.
Recently, Vevo was introduced in 2009 which also provides
music videos from the “big four” record labels.

8. ITUNES
Also, in 2005 iTunes opened which allows music videos
(and songs) to be downloaded from the internet.
Television shows, iPod games, audiobooks, podcasts and
movies can also be downloaded.
This has also increased the popularity of music videos
because if the viewers watch a video on YouTube that
they like, it can then be downloaded from iTunes.