Research Into The Industry

Research into the industry

How music videos are made?

Music videos are made when a single has just been released, then plans are put into place to create a music video for the artist. They then call in film crew, the artist, producers, directors and more important people. They then plan how long it will take and how many days they need to film for. They will work and work until every shot is perfect and ‘music video material’. The music video will usually be mimed.

Editors of music videos spend days, maybe weeks editing the video and adding special effects and setting the music correctly so that everything is perfect and ready for release.

The music videos are then premiered on music channels such as MTV or Smash Hits so that they can get their big break onto the music scene, and people can tune in to watch them if it appeals to them.

Production of Music Videos


Construct of music involves executives and an artist. Both are vital in order to get the music produced. An executive producer is the person who controls the whole creation of the professional product.

During preproduction of a music video, a series of research and planning errands need to be carried out. This research consists of aspects such as the video storyboard and questionnaires which will be required to gather feedback on ideas and collect information as to what the viewers would want/expect to see from your music video. I have also mirrored this in my preproduction planning to gain the same required information to make a professional product.

Artists are heavily dependent on outside companies when it comes to producing music videos as they are specialists when it comes to the production process. An example of an outside company used for production in the media industry is “HUM”, an award winning music Production Company, based in London.

The director will be approached and given the soundtrack to allow them create several ideas for a music video. The director is completely in charge of what will and won’t be included in the music video and the original artist no longer has control.

In the industry, a record label is networking brand which helps artists in the form of marketing and promotion of their music and name. There a several large EDM music record labels in which numerous artists have been signed up to in order to give them a greater chance to develop their skills and expand their audience. Various examples of large record labels are both “Spinnin’ Records” and “Musical Freedom”; both labels have large promotions and fuel an artist’s career in specific but successful ways.

Exhibition: When a music video is premiered to your focus group, a license is required so they can legally broadcast the product. This license is required to avoid copyright issues as the music video is owned by the record company, meaning permission is required in order to legally exhibit the video.  Technological convergence between different forms of technology allow illegal exhibition to occur much easily due to the vast amount of websites which could easily embed a music video within the webpage. This is where the problem of copyright with music can occur as it is so easy to get free access to music and illegally watch copy or download music.

Average costs of music videos:

• Producer fee: $500 – $1250/day
• Director fee: $500 – $1250/day
• Camera operator: $500-1000/day
• Camera equipment rental: $150 – $3500/day
• Key grip + assistant + lighting gear: $1000 – $1750/day
• Wardrobe: estimated $20 – $1000/day per character project
• City permits: $25 – $1000/day (depending on the city, exact location, whether roads need to be closed, etc…)
• Location fees and rentals: $250 – $2500+/day
• Actors: $200 – $1200/day (each)
• Extras: $50 – $200/day (each)

Example of successful directors in my genre: 

“DANIELS”

DANIELS is the industry name of directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, They are a pair who’ve focused upon the more surreal end of the spectrum (hardly surprising when you learn they were both interns for Eric Wareheim). Since going it alone they’ve established themselves with an incredibly unusual body of work that combines very comedy, bizarre dance routines and an immature informal but captivating charm.

Compared to other directors in the industry, DANIELS’ ability to take a enchanting idea and develop it to its extent of its possible shows off their confidence in their ability.

Their videography clearly exposes why they’ve been twice nominated for a Grammy during their careers. Their projects consist of reanimating the corpses of Foster The People, impregnating girls at a glance for “Chromeo” and focusing on the unusual topic of societies sexual drive in Lil Jon’ Turn Down For What. “DANIELS” videos spread through the internet like “clickbait” wildfire.

This Duo focus on the wacky and wonderful side of media making their pieces quite niche compared to most I want to focus on this unusual side of media by merging both narrative and performance styles of music videos which is an unusual occurrence in the EDM side of the industry. I believe by doing this it will take up the genre's followers with ease due to its abnormality and fresh style in the industry.

MARK LOONEN

Born in the Netherlands, Mark Loonen is known for his energetic, imaginative and skilled products. He has been working in the industry for nearly a decade.

Mark set out to start his own production company. It has now been successfully functioning in the industry for the past 5 years. Marks signature style, dynamic camerawork and hands-on approach paved his way to the top.

Overtime, Mark´s wide range of video productions amazed millions of views on the web. His credits include star-struck collaborations with the hottest internationally acclaimed DJs, record labels and events, including Martin Garrix, Spinnin Records, Don't Let Daddy Know and much more.

One of Mark´s highlights in 2013 has been the official musicvideo for Martin Garrix "Animals", counting over 300.000.000 views on youtube!

Animal by Martin Garrix features props which link up with the songs title, this creates a weird and wacky music video but with a deeper message about how animals are within society however we don't see them. I intend to use this technique of using objects to give a symbolic or hidden message as it is accessible under my restraints therefore I will adapt this feature for my production piece to have a similar success enhancing effect.