Thoughts On Music Videos

[RJMJ87]

Just trying to get a general feel for how you guys view music videos today, in the past, and in regards to the overall package of an artist. Are music videos important to you? Would you like an artist if they didn't make them? Would you feel like something is lacking without that visual element? Even if the songs are spectacular? Do you connect to the films and think they add to the song and give it something extra? Do you usually find new artists and get interested in them through their videos? Would you be disappointed if your favorite artists didn't make them?
I'm asking because I'm currently setting up a lot of stuff for films and it's a ton of money and most importantly time. I personally have connected with very few music videos and think most of them are egotistical (all the duck faces at the camera, haha), abstract, and plain out boring (except for Michael Jackson's; his are the only ones I love). I think it's nice to have a more visual element to the brand, and am sure I'd do a way better job than what's out there currently, but sometimes it's simpler to just focus on the music. I wonder if it's worth the hassle; I guess deep down I'm believing they still are, but still think it'd be interesting to get your input as the consumer. Thank ya!

[VomitHatSteve]

I really like music videos and would love to make some for my band.

However, I don't think they're a dealbreaker for anyone anymore. I listen to tons of bands that don't have any videos.

From what I'm told though, it's important for serious musicians to have their songs on YouTube in some format. The music-buying population (i.e. teenagers) pretty much all preview music on YouTube before buying it. So a lot of labels are having their artists put up videos that just have the song with lyrics for the video to abet that process. (I can't recall my source.)

[FromtheSOUTH]

I think that the late 80s early 90s (I'm thinking early MTV and pop-up video on VH1 here) were the music video's golden years.

I tend to agree that most modern music videos (especially with 'popular' music) are just egotistical, base, and inartistic.

Check out my car, it bounces, just like that girls butt, let me throw some money in the air and 'sing' about how awesome I am.

But, there are some really cool videos that have been done in the recent past. A few come to mind, like Tool, they always have amazing music videos to reinforce their amazing music.

Actually, here is a link to one of my favorite videos, somewhat recent - with Kool Keith and Tom Waits
N.A.S.A. "Spacious Thoughts" (feat. Tom Waits & Kool Keith) - YouTube

Also, here is a band that I probably never would have listened to if it weren't for their weird videos -
Die Antwoord - Zef Side. - YouTube

I think the visual element of a band is just as important as the music, and in some cases (bad musicians), even more important.

[Xaaron1377]

These days music videos just aren't the same as they used to be. It seems like half of the videos don't even have anything to do with the song, or they're just plain stupid. That's just my opinion. There are a few good ones out there though.

[RJMJ87]

Thanks, guys, for your replies!

[Chili]

With the cost of bandwith coming down and YouTube on every device, I thought videos were going to be the future, and maybe for the pro's it is. But for the home recording crowd, making a video is hard work and requires a lot of planning and creativity outside the realm of the normal musician.

We started this little video forum to inspire people to work on videos and a place to exchange ideas related strictly to music videos, but because of the amount of effort it takes to get one simple video done, this place doesn't have much activity. Too bad because you don't see too many sites on the internet that deal directly with music videos.

[Greg_L]

The problem as I see it with videos is like Chili said, it's a time-consuming nightmare, and video sites like youtube are literally flooded with billions of videos. So great, you write a kickass song and make a kickass video......no one's ever gonna hear or see it. The same problems everyone has with straight audio is the same with video - promotion. There's just too much out there.

[chuckduffy]

The problem as I see it with videos is like Chili said, it's a time-consuming nightmare, and video sites like youtube are literally flooded with billions of videos. So great, you write a kickass song and make a kickass video......no one's ever gonna hear or see it. The same problems everyone has with straight audio is the same with video - promotion. There's just too much out there.

I hear ya, but before I started doing my crappy vids no one ever listened to my stuff, at all, ever.

[Greg_L]

I hear ya, but before I started doing my crappy vids no one ever listened to my stuff, at all, ever.

So how many extra listens to do you think you get just because of the video, and how are you promoting it?

[chuckduffy]

So how many extra listens to do you think you get just because of the video, and how are you promoting it?

I don't really promote anything. People find the cover videos I do because of youtube search. Then when the vid ends it shows a bunch of my other vids as suggested vids. Sometimes people click through to my site. But anyway - my average is only about 200 plays a month that people actually watch all the way through - LOL . But seriously I was getting NO plays whatsoever on bandcamp or soundcloud anymore, and the people who do come to my site or FB page aftwards didn't do it because they were already my friends or I begged them to. They are total strangers :-)