Research into the Music Industry

Who are the main television companies that show videos?

One of the main television companies that show videos is MTV.  Originally MTV was meant to be 'music television', playing music
videos 24 hours a day, seven days a week, guided by video jockeys (an announcer who introduces videos on commercial music television stations.) Although the original MTV channel no longer plays music videos 24/7, several of it's spin-off channels do, including MTV Hits and MTV Jams. Additionally, viewers can play music videos on-demand at MTV.com. MTV continues to support a broad selection of music videos on its international channels as well.

As MTV expanded, music videos were no longer the centrepiece of its programming. Conventional TV shows came to replace the VJ-guided music video programming. Today, MTV presents a wide variety of non-music-related television shows aimed mainly at the 12 to 18-year-old demographic.

Another main television company that shows videos is VH1. They began airing "History of Music Videos A to Z" during the July 4 weekend from 1994 to 1998 where they'd show a large percentage of their library of music videos, which would include mini-marathons of videos by artists with a large number of videos. The videos were aired without introduction by a VJ and the program was soon shortened to thirty minutes, and then scrapped all together. By 1996, VH1 was heading down the same path as its sister channel, MTV, choosing to focus more on music-related shows than on music videos. Additionally, the network began to expand its playlist of music videos to include more rock and rap music.

An additional main television company that shows videos is the CSC Media Group. CSC Media Group (formerly known as Chart Show Channels) are a UK-based satellite television channel provider. Until May 2005, their sole output was music television, with their three fully owned music channels Chart Show TV, The Vault and B4 (now Flava), plus the three music channels Bliss (previously The Amp), Scuzz and Flaunt, which were owned by BSkyB but run by CSTV. Their two children's channels Pop (previously Toons & Tunes) and Tiny Pop (previously Pop Plus) also both showed music videos along with cartoons.  Some of the music channels that CSC Media Group owns are listed below:

Where can you find music videos?

Nowadays, you can find music videos almost anywhere. The most common place to find music videos is on YouTube or Vevo. Artists usually uploaded their music videos immediately to YouTube or Vevo. There are also other sites that you can easily access music videos such as MTV. Other than on the internet, you can find music videos on music channels on the television.

What are the purpose of music videos?

Music videos were originally made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. The music video promotes a song which in turn promotes an album. The main purpose is to sell an image of an artist. The overall purpose is to help to generate money for the record company. 

Music videos can help promote a band or artist long after the single or album has been released. Some artists are remembered years later solely because of a memorable music video. 

Online music stores such as iTunes now stock music videos for people to buy in the same way as the music tracks. Artists will often sell DVDS and Special Edition CDs (for higher prices) which include music videos as bonus material.