The Dearth of Great Music Videos

Hey folks

I only had one comment to make today and its that there is an utter lack of compelling music videos in the music industry. Sound cynical or pessimistic? Maybe. But it doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Music videos originated primarily as a marketing tool (the fancy editing and cool cinematography is all meant to hide that very fact) so I completely understand why music executives would want to invest heavily in music videos. Especially now, with so many online entities interconnected (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo, etc.), music videos have become more popular compared to a few years ago, when the medium failed to excited viewers in any kind of tangible way. Now, however, with relatively sophisticated methods, we can track the progress of a video both domestically and internationally. The Internet doesn't have borders (no matter what you might hear) and any kind of imposed limitations are a complete falsehood.

In my opinion, music videos are more than just high-end advertising. It is a celebration of music through the magic of video. I don't think there is anything more exciting than to visually feast on a music video that has a great concept and a great look. I realize that I am simplifying matters a bit, but the core foundation of a terrific music video isn't some great mystery. It doesn't take a genius to realize that in order to make a compelling music video, one only has to find inspiration in the music itself. If the music sucks, the video will suck. Period.

So, how do we fix this? Well, we must find and celebrate artists who are open-minded, creative and liberal about their options. Then, we must persuade studios into producing videos not just for commercial points, but for creative ones too. It is a risk, yes, but only by venturing into uncharted territory will you find answers. If an investor wants to spread risk, he or she will diversify their portfolio. Why not utilize that common sense method into music video production? If you sufficiently prepare yourself, you can reduce risk and manage it comfortably like any investor.

Be pragmatic, be open and barriers will fall. Live in possibility and your life will know no bounds. It doesn't necessarily take courage to break away the shackles of doubt and nervousness, just the wisdom of acknowledging that doubt and denying it access into your life.

There is no need for a revolution in music videos, but a desire to destroy forces that would stifle creativity will be in everyone's best interest. Change has the best chance of surviving if it originates from the ground up. A positive-minded grassroots movement will do wonders for the music industry. The question shouldn't be "How can I do this?" but rather - "When do I start?"