What is a music promo video?

• Purpose- for song? Album? Artist/ band? Record company?

The purpose of a music promo is to give people something to picture when listening to the song, helping to create more of a story behind it, music promos for the album would again help to create a image of the artist and helps to promote the artist and the album as it will be seen by large numbers or people. A music promo for the record company will give them a chance to show any new artists to the public rather than just allowing them to be heard over the radio, it gives people a chance to put a face to a name, it will also help to advertise the record company and anyone else who helped to make it.

• How can a promo create a 'brand image' for a performer?

A music video promo will help to show people some of the personality of the performer, as some of their own thoughts and ideas will be included, it will help people to see who the performer is and create their own opinions of the song and artist.

• Conventions? Camera work? Editing? Sound? Mise-en-scene? Narrative? Representation?

A wide variety of shots are expected in a music promo, shots of instruments are shown to try to show/convince the viewer that the artist is skilled. Music promos are expected to show a lot of energy through editing and mise-en-scene. The shots have to keep with the structure of the song. A lot of shots and cut types depend on the genre however most are just straight cuts to keep with the beat. The only sound heard would just be the song. Close up shots are seen more than others to try to keep more focus on the main artist, a music videos gives the means of being close to the performer.
Music videos tend to tell a story, depending on the genre, however it can be just the artist playing the song, or part narrative being shown with cuts of the artist... it can also be completely acted out, where the band cannot be seen at all.

• Where can music promos be exhibited? 

Music promos will be shown on TV... mainly on music channels that are more suited to that genre of music. They will be repeated over periods of time on different shows and charts to help create publicity for the song. Music promos can also be seen on the Internet through different sites. They can also be downloaded through sites like itunes.