Definition & Purpose of a Promo Music Video

Promotional Music Video:

"A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes." 

Music videos can often be released in conjunction with a album's release to help promote the awareness of the album. Alternatively, music videos are often released to help sell singles that are popular from their albums or from the radio. Music videos often have conventions that they abide by depending of the genre that they align with. For example, a sultry/meaningful rap/song will usually have close ups on the artist's facial expression to depict emotion or slow panning-shots of an urban environment or field to reinforce the purpose. On the other hand, a fast upbeat pon de riddem/pop songs will have fast cuts, usually in line with the beat along with aspects of choreography. In some cases, music artists create extended versions of a promo video that may contain a couple of songs (often three) which usually is dubbed a movie.

Nicki Minaj - The Pinkprint (Album)

Nicki Minaj - The Pinkprint Movie (Promo Music Video for Album)

For the release of Nicki Minaj's highly anticipated album "The Pinkprint" she released a promotional music video to help promote its release.

4 songs:
1)"All Things Go"
2)"The Crying Game"
3)"I Lied"
4)"Grand Piano"

Analysis of "The Pinkprint Movie" by Nicki Minaj

Close up GIF of Nicki Minaj

Long shot showing Nicki Minaj's outfit of a figure hugging
white dress. 

Since the message of her rapping and singing in the video are meaningful, shots overall have slow transitions and establishing shots to abide by its conventions. Acting has been used to follow story arc which follows throughout the music video & entails a sense of realism. As the musician is Nicki Minaj, she features heavily throughout the video. Many close up shots of a relatively long duration encapsulate her emotions which further reinforces the empathy behind the video. Written codes such as "Part I - The Crying Game", "Part II - I Lied" & "Part III - Grand Piano" are used to introduce the name of the upcoming songs. The colour of the font is white which on a denotative level is to make the text stand out but in terms of connotations; it could also be interpreted to symbolise purity. 


Nicki Minaj undergoes several costume changes throughout the video (mainly when the video reaches the next 'Part/Song'). Her hair colour remains her natural dark hair colour with minimal make-up to show the 'naturalness' of the video. 

As the genre of these songs fall under sultry hip hop and ballads, the aesthetics are simplistic and classy. Therefore, following conventions expected for the type of songs featured in the promotional music video. As a result, furthering the awareness of the release of Nicki's album and fortifying more sales for The Pinkprint.

Credits for "The Pinkprint Movie"

Nicki Minaj - The Night Is Young (Promo Music Video)

(For a Single)

Here is an example of music video used to promote a single from Nicki Minaj's album "The Night Is Still Young". As this track is a fuse between hip hop and pop, the visuals are very vibrant and energetic. Lots of colour gives off the impression that it is a fun track and choreography in the video retains attention to the video. Fast transitions and cuts gives the video more energy which suits the feel of the song. Pop singles are likely to be more successful than any other most genres so by promoting this single (being one of the few pop songs off The Pinkprint) will make it almost a guaranteed success. Especially if the song is released around summer time as pop is at its peak at that time of the year. Also the message of the song is about having fun & is not overly meaningful in terms of being emotional which means the a slow moving video would not be suited for this type of music.