Music Promos

1. What is a music promo?

A music video is a short film involving a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are usually made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. But the origins of music videos go back much further, they became more popular in the 1980s, when MTV based their channel around music videos.

2. Purpose/function?

- To entertain
- Inform
- Advertise
- To campaign/raise awareness
- Shock

Examples:
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video was made to entertain audiences
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA

Band Aid's 'Feed the World' video was made to inform audiences of hunger and poverty in Africa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsJn8RCTopc

3. Where can they be viewed?

Due to technical proliferation, music videos are a lot more available to promo audiences. People now have access to a number of devices that can be used to browse the internet. Music videos are mostly viewed through websites on the internet such as YouTube and Vimeo. This means that music promos get a lot more publicity now as nearly everyone has the opportunity to view them on their devices, such as phones and tablets.
Furthermore, music promos are accessible through music channels such as 4music, MTV and Capital FM. This means that people who don't have access to the internet are still exposed to music promos.

4. How has digital technology impacted on the exhibition/consumption of music promos?

The development of digital technology has increased the consumption of music videos. The development of technology has allowed more people around the world to have access to videos using the internet. The use of mobile data and WiFi, means that people can watch a video/music video anywhere they are. This means that the bands videos become more popular. 
Moreover, the increasing amount of video games consoles means that they can access the internet through their console and watch a music promo video;  another way in which a band can increase their popularity.