Andrew Goodwin’s 6 Features of Music Videos

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performances in metal videos, dance routine for boy bands / girl groups, aspiration in hip hop)

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music (either illustrative, amplifying or contradicting)

4. The demands of the record label (Sony) will include the need for lots of close-up shots of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work.

5. There is frequent references to the notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.*

6. There are often intertexual references to films, tv programs and other music videos.

*Less relevant nowadays