When did music videos start8 min read

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The first music video is generally considered to be The Beatles’ "A Hard Day’s Night," filmed in 1964 and released in 1965. However, there were earlier videos, including "The T.A.M.I. Show" (1964), which featured several popular performers lip-syncing to their latest hits. 

The Beatles’ "A Hard Day’s Night" was directed by Richard Lester and filmed in just four days. The video features the band performing on a rooftop in London and in the streets below. It was one of the first music videos to be aired on television, and helped to popularize the format.

In the 1970s, music videos became an important way to promote music. Many artists started to make short films to accompany their songs, and MTV began airing music videos as a regular programming block. Some of the most iconic music videos of all time were released in the 1970s, including "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (1975), "Saturday Night Fever" (1977), and "The Wall" (1982).

Since the 1980s, music videos have continued to become more elaborate and creative. Some of the most iconic videos from the past three decades include "Smooth Criminal" (1987), "Thriller" (1983), "Bad" (1987), "Take on Me" (1985), and "Bye Bye Bye" (2000).

Today, music videos are an essential part of the music industry. They are often used to promote new songs and albums, and are a great way to connect with fans. In addition, music videos can be a lot of fun to watch and are often very creative.

When was the 1st music video?

The first music video is generally considered to be The Beatles’ "A Hard Day’s Night," which was released in 1964.

What was the first song to have a music video?

The first song to ever have a music video was "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets. Released in 1954, the music video was simply a performance of the song by the band. It was shot in black and white and didn’t really feature any special effects or gimmicks. However, it was a huge hit and helped to popularize rock and roll music. Since then, music videos have become an integral part of the music industry and are now used to promote both new and established artists.

Did music videos exist before MTV?

There is some debate over when music videos actually began, as various artists had released videos and films featuring music prior to MTV’s launch in 1981. However, it’s generally accepted that music videos became a more prevalent and mainstream form of promotion with the advent of MTV.

MTV is often credited with popularizing music videos, as the channel played music videos around the clock and helped to launch the careers of many artists. Videos became a powerful marketing tool for artists and labels, as they could be used to promote new music, tour dates, and products.

While MTV was instrumental in popularizing music videos, the format actually existed prior to the channel’s launch. In fact, the first music video is believed to be The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night,” which was released in 1964. The video was shot during the band’s tour and features footage of the group performing on stage and interacting with fans.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, a number of artists released music videos, including The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Queen. However, the videos were often made independently of the artists and were not always aired on television.

With the launch of MTV in 1981, music videos became a more mainstream form of promotion and quickly became an important part of the music industry. While MTV no longer plays music videos around the clock, the format is still popular and is often used to promote new music.

What is the oldest music video?

The first music video is generally considered to be "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets. Released in 1954, the black-and-white video featured the band performing the song in a studio.

Since then, music videos have become an integral part of the music industry, with some artists even achieving greater success with their videos than they have with their music. While the quality and production values of music videos have evolved over the years, the basic premise has remained the same: to visually accompany a song and create a music video that is both entertaining and engaging.

Some of the earliest music videos were actually promotional videos that were used to help promote a song or an album. One of the earliest examples of this is "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles, which was released in February of 1964. The black-and-white video, which was directed by Peter Sellers, features the band performing the song in a studio.

Since then, music videos have become an essential part of the music industry, with some artists even achieving greater success with their videos than they have with their music. While the quality and production values of music videos have evolved over the years, the basic premise has remained the same: to visually accompany a song and create a music video that is both entertaining and engaging.

Over the years, there have been a number of iconic music videos that have become synonymous with the songs they feature. Some of the most famous music videos include "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics, "Justify My Love" by Madonna, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" by The Darkness, and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" by Beyoncé.

With the advent of MTV in the early 1980s, music videos began to gain in popularity, and artists began to put more emphasis on their videos, often hiring top directors and spending large sums of money on their production.

In the 1990s and 2000s, the popularity of music videos began to decline, as music piracy became more widespread and the internet made it easier for fans to access music without having to watch a music video. However, in the last few years, music videos have begun to make a comeback, with some artists, such as Beyoncé and Justin Bieber, releasing high-budget videos that often rival the quality of traditional films.

So what is the oldest music video? "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley and His Comets, which was released in 1954.

Who started the music videos?

The first music video is widely accepted to be The Beatles’ "A Hard Day’s Night" in 1964. However, there were earlier examples of what could be called music videos. In the early days of television, cameras would often be turned on performers to capture them in motion. One such example is the 1938 short film "Lenox Avenue Breakdown" starring jazz saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.

The Beatles’ "A Hard Day’s Night" was shot by director Richard Lester as a promotional film for the band’s upcoming tour. Lester had previously directed the Beatles’ feature film debut, "A Hard Day’s Night". The video features the band playing on a train and in the streets of Liverpool. It was one of the first music videos to be aired on television and helped to popularize the medium.

The music video became a more widespread phenomenon in the 1980s, with MTV playing a large role in popularizing the format. The first music video played on MTV was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles.

Did the Beatles make the first music video?

The Beatles are often credited with making the first music video, for their song “Hey Jude” in 1968. However, this claim is disputed by some.

There were precedents for music videos before the Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. One early example is the 1947 short film “The Edmund Fitzgerald”, which was made to promote the song of the same name by Gordon Lightfoot.

In the early 1960s, some artists made short films to promote their songs, but these were not generally considered to be “music videos”.

One of the first music videos to be aired on TV was “Telstar” by The Tornados, in 1962.

The Beatles’ “Hey Jude” was not the first music video to be released commercially, but it is generally considered to be the first music video to be made on a professional level.

Did Michael Jackson make the first music video?

There is no clear consensus on who made the first music video, but many people believe that Michael Jackson was the first artist to do so. His 1983 video for "Thriller" is widely credited as being one of the most influential and groundbreaking music videos of all time.

Prior to the release of "Thriller," music videos were generally short and simple performances or promotional clips. But Jackson’s video was a six-minute mini-movie, complete with a story line, special effects, and dance sequences. It was also heavily promoted on MTV, which had just launched its music video channel a few years earlier.

Since "Thriller," the music video has become an essential part of the music industry, and almost every major artist has released one. While the quality and creativity of music videos has varied over the years, they continue to be an important way for artists to connect with their fans and create excitement around their music.