What makes a good lyric video?
Lyric videos are a vital tool in music marketing. They can be looked at as a way to simply share the lyrics to you recent track, or you can use it to build up your artist brand, repurpose it for content, and strengthen that bond between you and your fans. So what can you do to get the most out of your lyric video?
Coherent creative direction
Having coherent creative direction is the fastest way to pull in new fans.
Ideally, your creative direction will instantly communicate your story, the type of music you make and what you stand for as an artist, making it easier for your target audience to identify with you.
You can start by pulling back and looking at yourself as a brand, and identify the narrative thread that ties all of your music and visuals together.
From there, you can start thinking about how a lyric video could fit into your wider brand, so that it feels like a natural extension of your art rather than an afterthought.
💡Top tip: Click here to learn more about creative direction and how it can elevate your brand.
Represents yourself and your track
As an extension of the previous point, the lyric video should not only represent you as an artist but it should also reflect the meaning and vibes of the song.
Lyric videos are often watched by new fans, and very much act as an extension to music videos. Getting the visuals right can be the difference between resonating with the right type of fan, or being missed by them completely.
Try to look at lyric videos as a way to connect with fans rather than as just another marketing tool. The more of yourself you pour into it, the more you’ll strengthen fan connections and continue to stand out.
Sustainable and realistic
Whilst the above may all be true and effective, none of it is doable if you’re working outside of what’s available to you.
When conceptualising your lyric video, bear in mind how much time, money and energy you have available to put into the project before you get started.
Personally, I like to dream up big ideas and then whittle them down to suit the restraints I’m facing. Having a strong direction behind it will really help you when it comes to knowing what you can and can’t compromise on.
Remember, an imperfect video is better than an incomplete and unreleased video! Work within your boundaries to avoid unnecessary stress and burnout.
🍏 Check out this blog post if you’d like to learn more about different types of lyric videos at each budget level.
Can be repurposed
If you really want to make the most of a lyric video, think about ways it can be repurposed in other areas.
Are there any visuals you’re using that can be used as a Spotify Canvas? Or a base for a tour announcement post design? Can a section be cut out and used for stage visuals on stage?
Keep the bigger picture in the back of your mind as you create and you may end up with something that ticks more boxes than you initially expected.
Accessible
Lastly, this may feel obvious but a good lyric video needs to be easy to read.
It should go without saying, but sometimes when you’re getting stuck into the creative, it can be easy to overlook the simple things such as legibility and practicality.
Keep an eye on your colour choices, pacing, amount of movement in the frame, effects, transitions and textures to ensure that it’s accessible to your audiences. Remember, a lyric video should support the lyrics and let them really shine, not distract.
🍏 Need help putting together some visuals for your release? Get in touch below and see how I can help turn your ideas into music videos, lyric videos, short‑form visuals, and release‑ready content.
