How Does Music Video Production Differ From Other Types of Video Production?

There are many different types of video production, especially with the diversity in modern entertainment and marketing content being leveraged by companies and artists alike. Marketing companies are often engaged to produce content for commercial video production, corporate video production, documentary video production, narrative video production, and of course, music video production.

There are many other sub-genres as well, especially when you consider the emerging and ever-changing landscape of social media and video streaming services. Each type of production has its own requirements and differences in the process. Music video production in particular has some distinctions that are particularly worthy of note.

Challenges faced throughout music video production

Music video production often face a lack of budget and limited requirements the production team should follow in delivering the final product.

Limited budgets

To be clear, not all music videos are low-budget. If you’re one of the few filmmakers out there that have made a name for yourself and had the talent, patience, and grit to climb the ladder to be able to work with musicians and record labels with beefy budgets, congratulations! It’s not an easy accomplishment.

Behind every music video director who’s “made it” is likely a mountain of video content they’ve made with a limited budget. High-budget music video productions exist, but they’re few and far between, and the reason is fairly obvious.

There are a lot of talented musicians out there who need video content but are independent and don’t have private funds or a record label backing them financially. On top of that, being an independent musician is expensive in and of itself. Musicians are already paying hand over fist to finish the music tracks. Then there’s the cost of photography, album art, and promotion. Then, and only then, will they maybe consider shooting a music video. So, please have some patience and grace for our musician brothers and sisters, they wish they had bigger budgets, too!

There are less rules for producing music videos

There are no rules when it comes to music videos with the exception of one: you must entertain your audience! If you manage to do that, at the very least you’ll be turning some heads and getting the song some well-deserved attention.

Music videos are unique in that, first, they don’t need to follow any sort of continuity and, second, they often don’t need to sell anything or require a call-to-action like commercial productions do. This lack of rules does help in the production process, because it prevents you from getting bogged down in what you must do, so you have more time to simply focus on what you are able to accomplish.

Out of budgetary restraint, creativity is born. The lack of creative restraints in music video production has led to a million different approaches to the production process in this genre. You can have the artist sing, not sing, play an instrument, not play an instrument, you can tell a cohesive story, or make something downright nonsensical. As long as you’re complementing the song, there are no rules! This is why you’ll often find music video directors at the forefront of innovative techniques in cinematography, special effects, and animation.

Other challenges faced throughout music video production

Now that we have the two main differences out of the way, let me address a few other distinctions that are worthy of note, including video duration, integration of music into the final product, on-screen performance, the emphasis on post-production, and finally, marketing and promotion.

Duration dictates story pacing

Since music videos are typically shorter in duration than other types of videos, often ranging from 3-5 minutes in length, music video production requires more efficient and effective storytelling techniques that can convey the message or emotion of the song in a shorter amount of time.

This means that music video production must be carefully planned and executed to ensure that the final product effectively conveys the intended message or emotion. This is why you’ll often notice breaks in continuity as well as faster-than-normal plot progression.

Integrating music in a way that complements the video

Another key difference between music video production and other types of video production is the integration of music into the final product. Unlike other types of video production, music videos must be closely tied to the music they accompany, and the two elements are usually created in tandem.

This means that music video production often involves collaboration with the artist or musician to ensure that the video matches the tone and style of the music. Music video production may also involve creating a visual storyline that complements the lyrics of the song, helping to enhance the emotional impact of the music.

Performance is vital in music video production

More than any other type of video production, music video production often involves a significant performance aspect. Many music videos feature the artist or musicians performing the song, either on stage or in a studio setting. This means that music video production often involves coordination with choreographers, lighting designers, and other professionals to create visually stunning performances.

This may include using unique camera angles and lighting techniques to capture the artist’s movements and expressions in a way that enhances the emotional impact of the music. This is why music videos are often pioneering cinematography, animation, and special effects techniques.

Post-production can make or break a music video

Post-production is another area where music video production differs from other types of video production. In music video production, post-production often involves extensive editing to ensure that the visuals and music are perfectly synchronized.

This may include adjusting the timing of shots or adding visual effects to enhance the emotional impact of the music. In addition, music video production often involves color grading to ensure that the visuals match the tone and style of the music, as well as sound mixing to ensure that the music is balanced and clear. Often times, the post-production process is even more extensive than pre-production or the production itself.

Music videos are marketed in a completely different way

Finally, music video production also differs from other types of video production in terms of marketing and promotion. Music videos are often used as a promotional tool for the artist or musician, so music video production often involves creating content that can be shared and distributed across various platforms, such as social media and streaming services.

This means that music video production often involves creating content that is optimized for online distribution and engagement. This may include using unique visual and musical elements to create content that is more likely to be shared and discussed on social media platforms. There are plenty of educational videos out there that will help video marketers properly advertise their video content. The social media and video streaming spaces are constantly evolving, so be sure to educate yourself on the latest video marketing trends!