Research: Star Image

Research: Star Image

Star image within music videos is considered as a very important aspect and is usually shown within every music video in order to give credit towards the artist that created the sound track. (Image on the right: Skepta center of attention in his music video 'Shut Down'.)

What can a video do in regards to promoting star image?
This also allows upcoming stars to become familiar in the eyes of their fans and the people to help gain a higher status as it leaves a mark on the work that they do.

Music videos tend to help artists gain credit for their work and even help the audience taking a liking towards the artist themselves as a first impression. For example rapper Fetty Wap and his hit song that put him on the map. Trap Queen (video below). This was a popular song that many people heard and upon seeing the music video which contained Fetty Wap as the star image. The people began to like him also and not just the song. So to a certain extent you could say that star image within music video does play a part on whether an artist's song that puts him on the map makes him a one hit wonder or an established artist in the music industry. 

Music videos as to promote an image over an album:

In a sense music videos can be seen as more important then the album release, this is because music videos play a big part to the promotion of an artist and his work, which is why they usually release the most popular song on the album as a music video. As the music video tends to outlive the soundtrack on its own. 

How Star image can change in the industry and the role the music video has in portraying this to audiences: 

Kylie Minogue - Class case Study (80's- present)
As part of a case study to see just how much an artist's star image can change in the eyes of the audience. We choose Kylie Minogue as a prime example as she has had a big fan base from the beginning of her career and even before music. 

80's

During her child hood as she grew up on Australia's hit show neighbours, we see a young Kylie followed by a audience aged 10-15 as she was only a child herself with an innocent and sweet appearance. In the eyes of the camera she seemed to be fun jumpy and always dancing but in no way did she promote anything of a sexual nature.


She was later seen as a childhood sweetheart by the world as she was in onscreen and offscreen relationship with fellow actor Jason Donnavon.

Early 90's
During the 90's her appearance began to change and became more sexier due to the change in her audience. (more boys began have a celeb crush on star so her fanbase got bigger.) In her music her lyrics had come more sexualised like her dancing style had also changed as she was now more choreographed than before.

this cause slight disruption between her and her original audience as some girls were not ready for this sexual awakening and it was seen as intimidating.  

Late 90's

By the time that the late 90's came around Kylie's sexual image became solidified and 

2000 - present day




Michael Jackson (Childhood - last moments)

However star image is only something that truly comes to mainstream artists who make music within the pop genres, as they will receive more attention above others that make music for the neiche genres. 

An example of star image at its finest would be the late Michael Jackson. My reason for choosing Michael as the best example for star image is because he was centre stage of the media for the majority of his life and even more so closer to the time of his passing. His music also dominated over many genres and everyone knew his songs even if they didn't listen to him or the pop genre during his time.

In his early years he began his musical career in the Jackson 5 a group consisting of his real brothers that was managed by his father however when his vocal talent was discovered by his mother he was given a more vocal role in the group, and in time was chosen by the people to become the lead singer of the group. Together they created hit songs such as 'ABC' and 'Who's Loving You'.

As Michael got older he began to grow out of the Jackson 5 and become more noticed as a solo artist as he made solo singles such as 'Rock with You' and 'You can't Win' from the movie Oz. Eventually his stardom began to cause friction with the group and tensions began to rise with him and his father and news broke out of accusations that he used to abuse the group and Michael especially.