In this post I will write down the research I’ve done about music video genres and what are my findings, I think this is important to research on as it gives you a clear idea on how you should inspire yourself while making a music video in the final project

What I found is that, music video genres are not a fixed form, but we can still develop our understanding of how producers encode their messages by analysing the common structural elements and patterns in the text, according to that i’ve found 5 common genres which i will explain below:

1. Performative Music Video

From what I read, a performative music video is simply a music video where someone is filmed singing the song, often with a band behind them, these kinds of music videos were common as its the oldest way of making a music video, bands like:Nirvana, Deftones, Radiohead, Foo Fighters and many more have these kinds of music videos but also Beyonce and other pop artists adopted this style of making music videos. The good thing about a performance video or even performance elements in a video is that it can fit anywhere and with any artist, so thats why we encounter different music genres in performative music videos, below i will add an example of a performative music video.

2. Narrative Music Videos

Narrative music videos are music videos that have a story, I’ve seen these kinds of music videos in Aerosmith’s music videos like: Cryin’,Crazy and many more and i find it really interesting as there is a lot of creativity besides the song, because the song may have many different meanings depending on what the person perceives. This is similar to a short film because it uses a sequence of events with a beginning, middle and end.The story can either reflect the song’s lyrics or have an alternate interpretation or hold very little relation to the song. Narrative music videos were very common in the 80’s, a period often called the “Golden Age” of the medium. The launch of MTV in 1981 revolutionised the industry by providing a 24-hour platform where visuals became as important as the music itself. Below i will add a example of a narrative music video.

3.Concept Videos

Concept music videos are an abstract form of visual art that prioritizes the artist’s overarching creative vision and the song’s aesthetic atmosphere over a literal interpretation of lyrics or a standard chronological plot. Rather than telling a story from A to B, these videos serve as an expansive visual playground designed to immerse the viewer in the “vibe” or world-building of the track.

While these videos often retain a sense of grounding—frequently incorporating fragments of a performance or a loose narrative thread to ensure the audience doesn’t feel entirely disconnected—they intentionally avoid traditional structures. There is rarely a clear “beginning, middle, and end”; instead, the imagery flows based on emotional resonance and artistic intent.

Known for being incredibly unique and visually fascinating, concept videos are almost guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. They are often characterized by high energy, utilizing rapid transitions, experimental cuts, and sophisticated lighting techniques to create a sensory experience that lingers in the viewer’s mind. When analyzing this genre, we typically categorize concept music videos into two distinct types:

1. Symbolic Music Videos

Symbolic videos operate through a language of metaphors. They are constructed from a series of seemingly disjointed frames and rapid shots that, when viewed in sequence, build a cumulative meaning. This style relies heavily on the “Kuleshov effect,” where the relationship between two different images creates a new idea in the viewer’s mind. To achieve this, directors often use meticulously planned lighting and high-speed editing to evoke specific feelings or social commentaries without ever stating them explicitly.

2. Thematic Music Videos

Thematic videos are anchored by a singular, overarching motif or “theme” that dictates the visual identity of the entire piece. This theme is often derived from the song’s genre, its emotional core, or a specific visual inspiration. Examples include:

• Color-Centric Themes: Utilizing a specific monochromatic palette or high-contrast color scheme to set the mood.
• Environmental Themes: Setting the entire video in a single, striking location—like a futuristic laboratory or a sprawling desert—to establish a physical “world” for the song.
• Genre-Based Themes: Borrowing aesthetic cues from specific eras or film genres (such as 1970s horror or cyberpunk) to align the visuals with the music’s sonic texture.

In 2026, the concept genre has expanded even further into “immersive surrealism,” where artists use these thematic and symbolic frameworks to create videos that feel less like a commercial for a song and more like a standalone piece of experimental cinema. Below i will add an example of and symbolic music video, and a thematic music video

first is a symbolic music video

And now a thematic music video:

4.Lyric Video

A lyric music video is a visual representation that features the lyrics of a song as the main visual element, often with a text animated to move with the music, unlike the traditional music videos that focus on a narrative or performance. The benefits of these kind of music video is that is more affordable and way faster to produceand serve as a way for fans to learn the words while still getting official, visually engaging content.

Key Characteristics

1.Focus on text:The words of the song are the central feature, using various fonts, colours, and animation styles, and it is often used for fans who want to learn the lyrics of the song and do karaoke.

2.Visuals: Can range from simple static backgrounds like the album art to complex the graphics, animated scenes and even live-footage.

3: Purpose is to engage listeners, promote new music and provide an official versions for fans and add an alternative to the traditional way of making music videos

Evolution

1. Early Days: Early examples, like Prince’s “Sign o’ the Times,” used animated text to create a unique visual.

2. YouTube Era: Fan-made lyric videos exploded on YouTube, leading artists like Katy Perry and Taylor Swift to release their own official versions.

3.Modern Day: Now a standard promotional tool, often released before a full music video, with sophisticated animation and design. 

Below I will add an example of a lyric music video:

5. Animated Music Videos

Animated music videos are music videos which are made using drawings, stop motion, animated content, and so on, which do not involve real human characters, they use the same characteristics as the traditional music videos but they just have an animated version they can have a story or even a performance it is a form of creativity that artists can use in making their music videos, below i will add an example of a animated music video