Video Static: Music Video News

Most Popular Music Videos Online and On-Air: Week of March 6

A snapshot of the most popular videos online and on-air... This is very much a moving target, so consider this to be 100% correct only for the next few minutes... 

MTV — Most Popular Videos on March 6

1. Mindless Behavior "All Around The World" (Colin Tilley, dir.)
2. Fabolous "B.I.T.E" (M-Vision Films, dir.)
3. Justus Boyz "Those People" (Phil Elam, dir.)
4. Lil Wayne "Love Me" (Hannah Lux Davis, dir.)
5. Dyro "Leprechauns &  Unicorns" (Robin Piree, dir.)
6. Bon Jovi "Because We Can" (Fisher Stevens, dir.)
7. Rihanna "Stay" (Sophie Muller, dir.)
8. Taylor Swift "I Knew You Were Trouble" (Anthony Mandler, dir.)
9. French Montana "Diamonds" (Edgar Esteves, dir.)
10. Sabrina Antoinette "I Knew You're Out There" (Parris, dir.)

VH1  — Top 10 from Top 20 Countdown Videos on March 2

1. Maroon 5 "Daylight" (Jonas Akerlund, dir.)
2. Taylor Swift "I Knew You Were Trouble" (Anthony Mandler, dir.)
3. Mumford And Sons "I Will Wait" (Fred & Nick, dir.)
4. Will.I.Am f/ Britney  "Scream and Shout" (Ben Mor, dir.)
5. Kelly Clarkson "Catch My Breath" (Nadia Marquard Otzen, dir.)
6. Fun  "Cary On" (Anthony Mandler, dir.)
7. Imagine Dragons "It's Time" (Anthony Leonardi, dir.)
8. Bruno Mars "When I Was Your Man" (B. Mars & C. Duddy, dir.)
9. Pink "Try" (Floria Sigismondi, dir.)
10. Calvin Harris  "Sweet Nothing" (Vincent Haycock, dir.)

YouTube — Daily Top Tracks in Music category on March 6

1. PSY "Gangnam Style" (PSY, dir.)
2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop" (Jon Augustavo, dir.)
3. Taylor Swift "I Knew You Were Trouble" (Anthony Mandler, dir.)
4. Rihanna "Stay" (Sophie Muller, dir.)
5. Rihanna "Diamonds" (Anthony Mandler, dir.)
6. Will.I.Am f/ Britney  "Scream and Shout" (Ben Mor, dir.)
7. One Direction "Kiss You" (Vaughan Arnell, dir.)
8. Bruno Mars "When I Was Your Man" (B. Mars & C. Duddy, dir.)
9. Justin Bieber "Beauty And A Beat" (Jon Chu, dir.)
10. Carly Rae Jepsen "Call Me Maybe" (Ben Knechtel, dir.)

 iTunes — Top 10 Selling U.S. videos on March 6

1. One Direction "Kiss You" (Vaughan Arnell, dir.)
2. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Thrift Shop" (Jon Augustavo, dir.)
3. PSY "Gangnam Style" (PSY, dir.)
4. Drake "Started From The Bottom" (Director X, dir.)
5. Justin Timberlake "Suit & Tie" (David Fincher, dir.)
6. Rihanna "Stay" (Sophie Muller, dir.)
7. Lil Wayne "Love Me" (Hannah Lux Davis, dir.)
8. French Montana "Ocho Cinco" (Eif Rivera & Matt Alonzo, dir.)
9. Will.I.Am f/ Britney  "Scream and Shout" (Ben Mor, dir.)
10. Carrie Underwood "Two Black Cadillacs" (P.R. Brown, dir)

NEWS: Zuus Lauches 50+ Channels Of Streaming Music Videos

How does 50 channels of music video TV sound? Zuus Media launched its streaming outlet zuus.com, offering 50 channels of linear programming that makes it the music video equivalent of Sirius Radio. Most genres and tastes are covered, from Rock to Urban to Country to Pop to Latin, with lots of specialty channels that also cater to fans of older videos and songs.

Visit Zuus.com for more of a fix (or The Fixx, which i assume spins on their '80s station)....

IN PRODUCTION: Goo Goo Dolls - P.R. Brown, dir.

P.R. Brown is directing the lead video off new Goo Goo Dolls album Magnetic.....

• artist: Goo Goo Dolls
• song: "Rebel Beat"
• label: Warner Bros.
• director(s): P.R. Brown
• production co: HELLO!
• producer: David Lawson
• DP: Ketil Dietrichson
• exec. producer: Kerri Kleiner
• commissioner: Devin Sarno

IN PRODUCTION: Hot Chelle Rae - P.R. Brown, dir.

Video in production for the new Hot Chelle Rae single...

• artist: Hot Chelle Rae
• song: "Hung Up"
• label: RCA
• director(s): P.R. Brown
• production co: HELLO!
• producer: David Lawson
• DP: Ketil Dietrichson
• exec. producer: Kerri Kleiner
• commissioner: Nicholas Robespierre

WATCH IT: Fantasia "Lose To Win" (Gommillion & Leupold, dir.)

Longtime Fantasia Barrino fans might connect the retro Boardwalk Empire vibe of this video which the "Summertime" cover that exemplified her winning run on American Idol season. The clip mixes old-timey film effects with an elegant speakeasy that has a hint of the red light.  --> watch "Lose To Win"

Fantasia "Lose To Win" (RCA)
Gommillion & Leupold, director | Josh Freuhling, producer | HELLO!, production company | Rosanna Goodman, commissioner

WATCH IT: Nelly "Hey Porsche" (Ethan Lader, dir.)

The double entendre is probably not lost anyone, but just in case: When Nelly talks about checking Porsche's undercarriage, bagging it up and taking a quick spin, he's referring to his girl. Director Ethan Lader splits the difference, casting both a stylish car and a hot chick to keep Nelly busy on the open road. --> watch "Hey Porsche" 

Nelly "Hey Porsche" (Universal)
Ethan Lader, director | Rockhard, production co. | Simran Leigh Brown, rep | Nicole Acacio, exec. producer | Kate Miller, commissioner

IN PRODUCTION: Wale - Alexandre Moors, dir.

• artist: Wale
• song: "Bad"
• label: Atlantic
• director(s): Alexandre Moors
• production co: Good Company
• rep: Lark Creative
• commissioner: Emmanuelle Cuny-Panicker

IN PRODUCTION: Crystal Bowersox "Dead Weight" (Tiger Tiger, dir.)

• artist: Crystal Bowersox
• song: "Dead Weight"
• label: Shanachie Entertainment
• director(s): Tiger Tiger
• production co: Foundation Content
• producer: Evan T. Cohen
• DP: Corbett Jones
• editor: Anna Patel
• commissioner: Bill Cason

WATCH IT: Metz "Wasted" (Scott Cudmore, dir.)

You know a video is odd when the data-moshing is the most "normal" element in it. Director Scott Cudmore gives us a series of off-kilter portraiture shots that look like they were stolen from a Photo Studio run by somebody who enjoyed the chemicals just a bit too much. --> watch "Wasted"

Metz "Wasted" (Sub Pop)
Scott Cudmore, director

WATCH IT: Marina and the Diamonds "State of Dreaming" (Thomas Knights, dir.)

The visuals are lush and hypnotic with echoes of old world glamour and the sensation that we are getting pulled into the dream right along with Marina. Director Thomas Knights makes sure she looks great in a debauched vintage bombshell way, hinting at his roots in the fashion world.

Two free-floating observations: One, I bet a lot of people shouted 'werk' on the set. Two, apparently "Lana de Rey" is a genre now. --> watch "State Of Dreaming"

Doug Stern also writes music video treatments when not luxuriating in slow motion confetti

Marina and the Diamonds "State of Dreaming"
Thomas Knights, director | Tim Bret Day, DP | Claire McGonigal, editor | Hasan Hejazi, stylist

WATCH IT: Mister Lies f/ Exitmusic "Hounded" (Nolan Wilson Goff, dir.)

Take a creepy walkabout through a house party and then out into the streets with director Nolan Wilson Goff, who keeps things pulsing-up the tension.  --> watch "Hounded"

Mister Lies f/ Exitmusic "Hounded" (Lefse)
Nolan Wilson Goff, director | Rachel van der Merwe, producer | Wild Animal, production co. | Nathan Ingalls, DP | Sal Duluoz, editor | Paul Slemmer, vfx

UNEARTHED: Postal Service Auditions (Tom Scharpling, dir.)

Finally, director/writer Tom Scharpling brings us the real story of The Postal Series via these unearthed audition tapes. Aimee Mann, Tom DeLonge, Duff McKagan and other music (and some comedy) luminaries all try to impress Jimmy Tamborello and a Sub Pop weasel. Ultimately, Ben Gibbard gets the gig, but not before Moby and Weird Al steal the show.

It's not really a music video, but it's really funny and genius. Enjoy. --> watch Postal Service Auditions

The Postal Service Auditions
Tom Scharpling, director | Puloma Basu, producer | Mark Schwartzbard, DP | Rob Hatch-Miller, editor

WATCH IT: The Belle Game "Wait Up For You" (Kheaven Lewandowski, dir.)

And you thought your family reuinions were weird and crazy dramatic? The cultish clan in this creepy narrative clip stop shy of full-on Wicker Man madness — but not shy of enhanced interrogation madness — as their leader tries to keep the family together. --> watch "Wait Up For You"

The Belle Game "Wait Up For You" (Bella Union)
Kheaven Lewandowski, director | Kyle Hollett, Jordan Barber producer | Devin Karringten, DP

IN PRODUCTION: Mika f/ Ariana Grande - Chris Marrs Piliero, dir.

• artist: Mika f/ Ariana Grande
• song: "Popular"
• label: Island UK
• director(s): Chris Marrs Piliero
• production co: DNA
• rep: Marisa Garner (UK only) / Tommy Labuda
• producer: Ryan Kohler
• DP: Rob Witt
• exec. producer: Missy Galanida