Music Video

音乐录影带 (Music Video, often abbreviated as MV) is a short video production centered around a song or recording. It typically combines an existing audio track with footage that has been specifically shot or produced for the video, and is used for visual expression, television broadcasts, and promotional distribution. Its history predates music television channels; promotional films for pop singles appeared as early as the 1960s, and music videos further established it as an independent production genre in the 1980s.

音乐录影带 may incorporate staged performances, live footage, narrative elements, conceptual imagery, dance, animation, and archival montages. So-called “performance videos” often feature artists performing in sync with a playback of the recording and do not necessarily include live vocals; some works use live audio directly. Whether the visuals depict the lyrics is not a defining factor. A single song may have an “original version,” “alternate version,” “dance version,” “lyric video,” and region-specific edits. If there are substantial differences in visuals, audio editing, or runtime, they should be considered distinct video versions; changes limited to resolution, subtitles, or file format typically constitute different releases of the same work.

Music videos and concert films differ in length and structure. The former typically consists of a short film centered around a single recorded track, while the latter focuses on a continuous live performance; a single song excerpted from a concert for promotional purposes may be referred to as a “live music video,” but this does not mean that the full concert video release is a standard music video.

Compilation discs may include multiple 音乐录影带 organized by artist, album, or era, and may include behind-the-scenes footage and commentary tracks. Although the titles displayed in the menu sometimes match the song titles, the database must still distinguish between recorded works, music videos, and the specific discs that contain them.