Music Television started as an inexpensive avenue of television production and advertising for the music industry (and now everything pop culture.) This was the perfect way to entertain, sell music and other advertising. Essentially it was entertainment/advertising that people were willing to watch.  The company and purpose of MTV changed as they experimented with different formulas to attract a wider audience. They began airing The Real World and TRL (which was music videos intertwined with other pop culture elements) to win over the pop culture consumption of teenagers and young adults. Since that experimental stage, MTV has filled their airtime with cheaply produced television shows that kept their audience entertained…until now.

With the lowest ratings in years, MTV has been forced to restructure their entire company. Do they follow the audience to the internet or do they try to come up with something innovative to bring people back to the television?

A couple months ago, they announced that they were cutting back their production and development costs even more to keep some sort of television running (possibly until they ran themselves into the ground, I’m assuming?)  They laid off one of my best friends and his entire department which was on the forefront of their previous initiative to take advantage of the internet and social networking.

Yesterday they announced that they are going to put music videos back on MTV. Sound a bit redundant to you? Well, you know that I’m a sucker for music videos…and well…I think that it is the perfect idea. The New York Times stated that, “On Monday the network starts ‘AMTV,’ a six-hour block for music and advertising experimentation. From 3 to 9 a.m. Monday through Thursday, it will show music videos, news, interviews and performances, harking back to the network’s origins as a 24-hour home for music videos.” To be honest, I think that this is their best move in a while.

I’m a huge fan of VH1’s “Jump Start” which plays music videos back to back for a couple of hours – pretty much the same formula for AMTV. The writer of a music video blog that I read religiously, Videostatic, poked fun saying, “[AMTV is] perfect for watching as you enjoy your morning coffee, or while shaking off last night’s meth binge. Or, better yet: Just set your DVR.” Now the question is, what kind of music will they be playing?  I am assuming that the type of music and the formula could be what makes it successful or a failure.  Obviously enough, someone interested in indie rock music is not going to sit through five pop music videos to watch one rock video.  VH1’s Jump Start features a variety of pop, alternative and rock which somehow seamlessly fit together – or at least I think so.  We’ll see how they set this up.

What do you think about this initiative to win back their stake in the music video industry and pop culture consumption?

If you’d like to read more, click here to read the article from The New York Times.  I found it really interesting, especially after Warner Music Group took down all of their videos from YouTube.

Share your thoughts.

London, England on 35mm.  July 2008.

Must Listen to Song:
“Move You” – Anya Marina

I recently got the opportunity to see a friend’s mind blowing photography collection and she gave me an incredible first edition Edward Steichen book (!!!). I consider the book one of my most prized possessions and is so exciting to have.  Chances are that if you’ve studied the history of photography in school, you’ve learned about his inventive and truly original style. 

If you haven’t seen any of his work, look for his portraits. The fashion portrait of Gloria Swanson by Steichen below was featured in Vanity Fair (and is in the book!)  Do some research and learn about one of the forefathers of photography.

Also, it has been far too long since “Maps” took over the radio in 2006. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs recently released their new album, It’s Blitz!, which was produced by Nick Launay at Sonic Ranch Studios in Tornillo, Texas.  Not only is Sonic Ranch an incredible recording ranch environment on the Texas/Mexico border, we got to visit it while It’s Blitz! was being recorded.  I’ve had ”Hysteric” on repeat for the past week so I’ve put it up for download for you all.  Make sure to download it and put your speakers on full blast for the ultimate Karen O experience!!!

Matt Wertz in Studio, Spring 2008

Erin Wasson, please model for me.

Happy 20th birthday to the coolest, most creative and caring dude I know.

Josiah Leming, this is your year.

I have some pretty incredible friends spread out across the states – all of which have exciting stories to tell.  When I get a chance, I’m going to write an entry about each one (and hopefully include a portrait that I have taken of them.)  You’ll be meeting some of them soon.

In the mean time, my friend Bryce has been working on an international business plan competition for the past couple of months.  Out of 6000+ teams from all over the world, his team won regionals, then top 50, then top 10.  He has spent the last week in Manhattan at the competition and was just informed that they came in 7th place.  So congratulations to him and his teammates.  I know that he’ll be doing incredible things in the future.

I came across this building while in Ft. Worth, Texas.  I am not sure why the ‘M’ really stood out to me, but I thought for a good twenty minutes about trying to steal it.  How cool is that rustic ‘M’?  If anyone you know is good at metalwork, that’d be an incredible gift.  Actually, I’d be willing to pay for it.  I even have more detailed images.  It’d go above my future office door, for sure.

I have this uncontrollable tendency to check up on the artists that I’ve worked with every once in a while.  Last summer, I directed an acoustic video and EPK (video press kit) for Matt Wertz, who at the time, recently signed to Universal Republic Records.  I spent a day in the studio, a day up in Santa Barbara for his album cover photo shoot and an additional day shooting the acoustic video and press kit.  He is one of the nicest, most relaxed, and genuine dudes that I’ve worked with (I say this in a lot of my posts, probably because I don’t blog about those who I dislike).  He has paid his dues; he spent years on the road, played with other musicians in Nashville, and released multiple albums himself –  which sold somewhere in the hundred thousands.

Matt’s album came out digitally a while back, but it looks like they are finally getting ready to release Under Summer Sun, his major label debut, just in time for the summer.  I have no doubt that we’ll see him all over VH1 and taking over the radio waves.  He deserves everything that is coming his way.

Though I’m a little more proud of the EPK, the acoustic video is for sale on iTunes.  Crazy seeing your work up there for sale.