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Comparing listening to music on the radio to watching music videos is like comparing reading a novel to watching the film. Many people say the book is always better than the movie, and I'm sure many feel as the Buggles did when they released their song "Video Killed the Radio Star." So what is the big difference? Who cares if you read the book, listen to the radio, watch the film, or watch the video? It's just entertainment right? Wrong!

Musicians and writers are the same as artist. When an artist takes the time to create a beautiful masterpiece, they want their buyers and admirers to not only be entertained by their work, but to also understand and appreciate it. Think about it. If Leonardo da Vinci found out someone bought the Mona Lisa only because it matched their sofa, I'm sure he would be a little upset that his work had been reduced to a simple ornament. The same holds true for musicians and writers.

As a writer, I am very serious about my work. If I wrote a novel that I found to be the best work I had ever created and that novel was made into a movie, I would be infuriated to see a director dissect my work in order for it to fit a two hour time frame. If I were a musician and I spent the time to write a beautiful love song only to have a music video director reduce it to a bunch of girls running around half-naked, this would also upset me.

So am I saying music videos and films are bad? Not at all. Just as some people learn from doing, others by seeing, and still others by hearing, we are entertained in the same manner. I have found myself listening to a song on the radio and not care for it at all, then later watch the video and enjoy it, and vise versa. I have read books, but hated the movie, I've even heard a speech by President Bush and thought it sounded horrible, then later read the same speech and think it's not so bad. The positive thing that MTV did in the 80s was give musicians the opportunity to broaden their audience as movies did for writers so long ago. With the introduction of movies, writers were given the chance to have fans that didn't even read. With the introduction of music videos, musicians were given the chance to have fans that didn't even listen to the radio.

So Buggles, I see your point. Videos did change things tremendously, but I wouldn't exactly say it "Killed the Radio Star." All artist take their craft seriously and don't want anything to minimize their work, but I'm sure even though Leonardo Da Vinci would be upset if I bought the Mona Lisa because it matched my couch, I'm sure he would take the money. Even though I would hate it if a director dissected my book for a movie, I would sale the rights. Even though the Buggles wrote a song titled "Video Killed the Radio Star," it was the first video aired by MTV!

Learn more about this author, Shannon Rayford.
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