Description
The emergence of MTV (Music Television) and similar music channels in the 1980s may be considered one of the starting points for the music video trend. MTV became the primary platform for broadcasting music videos worldwide when television was at its peak. In Indonesia, this trend became more significant in the 1990s. Young musicians like Sheila on 7, Dewa 19, Gigi, and other pop singers were encouraged to release music videos as part of their song promotions. MTV’s specific segment, MTV 100% Indonesia, further encouraged them to produce music videos. Around the same time, VCDs—and later, DVDs—emerged, inviting us to purchase music video compilations or music albums that included music videos. The culture of producing music videos was undoubtedly closely tied to the development of mass media, as was the practice of watching them.
Today, with digital technology, we “watch” music videos on streaming platforms such as YouTube. Some musicians create music videos with longer durations and narrative formats more similar to “short films.” These are even sometimes titled as “short movies” or “official short films.” So, how do we view this visual treatment change? Is it just a promotional strategy, or is it something more, reflecting a reevaluation of the mutual symbiosis between music and film? Has the way we enjoy music videos also changed?
Through the perspectives of creators and viewers, this talk show aims to delve into the evolution of music videos from the 2000s, when music videos were at their prime on television and VCDs, to today when music videos can be enjoyed with just one click on streaming platforms. This development includes aspects such as how Indonesian filmmakers experiment in making music videos, the aesthetics, and uniqueness of their storytelling through music videos, why this approach is chosen, and the creative process behind it, as well as how to appreciate and interpret the music and film in music videos. This talk show simultaneously serves as a space for nostalgia for those of the MTV generation while remaining relevant for today’s digital music video listeners.
