Typical Conventions of a music video

Conventions of a narrative music video

• A music video generally can be a non-linear or a linear narrative. 
• A music video can also be closed or open.
• With a narrative there is a beginning, middle and an end.
• The events must make sense to the audience 
• It must be suggestive or at least imply what the intended reading is

Conventions of a group performance music video

• Generally there is a performance in the music video, where the audience sees the band either lip syncing or we see them on stage performing. 
• Mimed playing of instruments 
• Close shots of the singers face and the instruments being played
• Unusual camera shots; for example low close angles of the instruments 
• Crane shots over the audience 

Conventions of a solo performance music video

• Close angles of the singer; emphasising them and that they are the main focus of the video
• A dance routine involved to bring the audience's attention
• First person mode of address so that the audience feels a connection with he singer and gets involved
• Often cutting between performance and narrative so that the audience want to keep watching

Star image 

• Certain profit stars will be selected and manufactured for the record label. 
• We are able to connote the meta narrative in music videos - this is where we are able to identify a stars personality and apply it to the music video. 
• stars such as; Madonna and Micheal Jackson were manufactured to be marketed in a certain way so that their record label could gain a profit