August 1, 1981, was a historic date in the music industry. On this day, MTV was launched, and though back then not many people expected it, it did change the course of entertainment. While it was not the first channel to show music videos, it defined a lot of new trends, influenced artists, and throughout its lifetime has launched some of the best music videos of all time.
Many consider music videos to be a separate form of art, just like movies. A music video is not only a great promotional tool for the artist to help the song become more popular, but it is also another way to express their creativity. The visuals enhance the song, creating a whole new level of perception for the audience. However, sometimes people question the profitability of making music videos, as musicians can’t sell them the way they sell their music.
Those of you who know how expensive it is to make a film probably also wonder: how much does a music video cost? A lot here depends on how elaborate the idea is, how much time and effort it will take to make it, and even which filmmaker you invite to direct it for you. And while not as expensive as big-budget blockbusters, some artists do invest a pretty penny into their music videos.
For this article, we collected some of the most expensive music videos. Have you seen all of them? What do you think, was the result worth the cost? If you like to watch videos, do you have a video of a musician or band that you like the most? Share with us in the comments.
#21 Duran Duran “The Wild Boys” - $2.6 Million
Not only was the music video for The Wild Boys considered mind-blowingly expensive when it was made in 1984, but it continues to be one of the most expensive music videos in history. With elaborate sets that included a windmill and a ship’s figurehead, numerous elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and computer graphics, it is understandable why the production would cost $2.6 million. The video was also named British Video of the Year at the 1985 Brit Awards.
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5points
#22 TLC “Waterfalls” - $1.8 Million
Probably the most popular song by the band, Waterfalls raises various social issues. In the accompanying music video, all three band members perform in front of a real waterfall. Other footage shows individual stories visualizing the verses. Costing $1.8 million, the video went on to win four awards at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards.
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5points
#23 Missy Elliott “She's A B**ch” - $3.3 Million
While the song did not gain particular popularity, the music video for She’s A B**ch became one of the most expensive ones in the industry. Missy Elliot once again collaborated with director Hype Williams, who, like in other videos they made together, went with a lot of unique effects, outfits, and sets. The overall budget is estimated at $3.3 million.
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4points
#24 Busta Rhymes Ft. Janet Jackson “What's It Gonna Be?!” - $3.9 Million
Director Hype Williams, who worked with both artists on this song, is well-known for his love of special visual effects, and the music video for What’s It Gonna Be?! was no different. Busta Rhymes appears in several shapes and forms, while Janet Jackson wears a latex suit, portraying a dominatrix. Filled with sexual innuendos, the video’s budget amounted to over $2 million ($3.9 million in today’s economy).
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4points
#25 TLC “Unpretty” - $2.6 Million
In its music video, Unpretty follows separate storylines for each band member, showing various everyday struggles, as well as them meditating together. Some of the scenes were considered too explicit for the broad audience, so a shorter version was released as well. Production cost $2.6 million.
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4points
#26 David Bowie “Ashes To Ashes” - $1.9 Million
With Bowie’s well-known love for visual aesthetics, it comes as no surprise that he participated in every stage of the creation of the music video for Ashes to Ashes, from storyboarding to color correction. He also plays three different characters in the video, namely, a clown, an astronaut, and an asylum inmate, all of whom represent the “outsider theme” of the song. Shot on multiple locations, the music video’s production cost $1.9 million.
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4points
#27 The Rolling Stones “Love Is Strong” - $1.9 Million
Love Is Strong was a true mixed bag for the band. Even though it was their lowest-charting first single, it still remains one of the band’s most popular songs from the 1990s. The music video, which cost $1.9 million, was directed by famous filmmaker David Fincher and included the members of the band as giants roaming around New York among romantic couples.
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4points
#28 Roxette “The Centre Of The Heart” - $2.4 Million
Sometimes titled The Center of the Heart (Is a Suburb to the Brain), the music video for this single remains Roxette’s most expensive music video to date. Previously, this title belonged to their 1991 video Spending My Time. While the song was relatively successful, the music video that cost $2.4 million to make was criticized for its negative portrayals of women.
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3points
#29 Will Smith “Miami” - $3.3 Million
It says quite a lot when a music video for a song on your debut album goes on to become one of the most expensive ones in music history. Most of the video for Miami features Will Smith and his band members coming to Miami from Philadelphia and roaming around the city. The total budget is estimated at $3.3 million.
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2points
#30 George Michael “Freeek” - $2.9 Million
When a music video is directed by Joseph Kahn, you expect something very cool. George Michael’s Freeek did not disappoint its viewers. The director based the aesthetics on futuristic vibes. The video includes cyborgs, sophisticated technology, and some adult topics. Kahn also employed some of the directorial effects he first used in Janet Jackson’s Doesn’t Really Matter. The entire production amounted to $2.9 million.
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2points
#31 Ayumi Hamasaki “My Name's WOMEN” - $2.8 Million
Hamasaki frequently participates in directing her own music videos that usually are built around a short symbolic storyline. My Name’s WOMEN is a track from the singer’s sixth studio album. Its music video became not only one of her most expensive music videos but also one of the most expensive music videos in the industry, with an estimated budget of $2.8 million.
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2points
#32 Ayumi Hamasaki “Fairyland” - $2.8 Million
Hamasaki’s Fairyland is deemed to be Japan’s most expensive music video. Shot on location in Hawaii, it shows the singer and her friends having fun on a tropical island until an accident occurs, causing their house to burn down. The overall budget of this video is estimated at $2.8 million.
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2points
#33 Ayumi Hamasaki “GREEN” - $2.5 Million
As a single, Green was released together with the artist’s other song, Days. The music video was shot in Shanghai, China, while on tour. Director Kazuyoshi Shimamura styled it after Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution. Hamasaki plays the role of a nightclub singer in 1930s Shanghai. The budget was a little lower than the singer’s two other most expensive videos and amounted to $2.5 million.
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2points
#34 Blackstreet Ft. Janet Jackson “Girlfriend/Boyfriend” - $2.5 Million
Initially, Blackstreet were supposed to record Girlfriend/Boyfriend together with the Spice Girls as part of the soundtrack for South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut. However, for undisclosed reasons, this version was never released, and the R&B band went on to re-record it with Janet Jackson. They also invited Joseph Kahn to direct the accompanying music video, which cost $2.5 million.
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2points
#35 Pia Zadora “Heartbeat Of Love” - $1.75 Million
When your music video, released in 1989, remains one of the most expensive ones in the world three decades later, you should probably be proud of it. Before turning to music, Pia Zadora tried her hand at acting, though without much success. In the music video for Heartbeat Of Love, she appears in several sets, surrounded by men, while another man watches her sleep on the monitor in a different setup. The estimated budget for the video was $1.75 million.
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2points
#36 Madonna Feat. M.I.A. And Nicki Minaj “Give Me All Your Luvin'” - $1.8 Million
When the directing team for the video were discussing the production of Give Me All Your Luvin’, they were tasked with coming up with an idea “about happiness and something really sunny.” As the single was scheduled to premiere at the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, the football and cheerleading theme became an inspiration for the video. It cost $1.8 million to make and received mixed critical reviews.
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1point
#37 Ismail Darbar, Shreya Ghoshal & KK “Dola Re Dola” - $2.4 Million
Strictly speaking, Dole Re Dola is not a traditional music video but a musical item number from a Bollywood movie, Devdas. The song is set during the celebration of Durga Puja and includes elaborate decorations and costumes. Both leading actresses, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit, appear in the dance. Costing $2.4 million to make, this item number was only one of the nine tracks in the movie.
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0points
#38 Kanye West “Stronger” - $1.6 Million
Shooting in the streets of Tokyo, Kanye West and his team didn’t get permission for filming, going guerrilla style instead. Among other things, the Stronger music video includes a real-life Japanese motorbike gang, a Japanese politician riot, and two main actors from the film Daft Punk’s Electroma. Kanye, who was inspired by the 1988 anime Akira, wanted to achieve a space-age look. The production budget is estimated at $1.6 million.
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-2points