Music Video Conventions.

The use of a music video by a band or artist is to mainly promote and advertise an album or single. The videos are used to create a fan base and spread the "word" of their music, response from other record labels and to increase downloads, therefore increasing revenue made.
The typical conventions of a music video is that the band/artist is filmed either within live performances, or a storyline is created in which they appear. However music videos vary heavily due to style and genre of a certain artist or band.  Below are screenshots of music video styles stereotypical to a certain genre of music.


HEAVY METAL
Bring Me The Horizon

 1. Dark set/ background
 2. Long Shot of whole band
 3. Live performance
 4. Close Up of lead singer/ band member
 5. Dark clothes/ props

 

POP
The Saturdays

1. Close up shot of the band

2. Well dressed/ high street costume and makeup

3. Long/ Extreme long shot of group dancing

4. Bright and large location/set

INDIE

The Kooks

1. Shot of band with instruments in either a live or studio/location based performance.

2. Separate storyline within the video

3. Band becoming introduced within the storyline

4. Casual/ scruffy costume

ACOUSTIC/ FOLK

Jack  Johnson

1. Close up of artist/band

2. Black and white/ Sepia tones often used

3. Live perfomances with band/ accompanyment

4. Montage of clips

5. Casual costume in a natural location/ setting.