Genre Conventions - Rock

Often in rock music the band is shown performing with instruments, far more than would be seen in the pop genre. In addition seeing the lead singer singing is also a convention. Dancing is rarely seen in rock music videos, unlike in pop music.

Typically rock music is fast paced, and often loud. However rock songs tend not to have specific theme for their narrative, ranging from happy comedic rock songs to dark heavy subject songs. On the other hand, many rock songs have a story or meaning to them. Even if it is a performance video the locations, and visuals often have relevance to the lyrics, with some kind of meaning to them.

The colours throughout the music videos of rock are usually dull, with black, and white colours. This is denoted through the costumes worn by the artists, and the locations chosen. Unlike in pop videos, the outfits in rock tend to be less mainstream. The locations in rock music, are usually urban, and real places, as opposed to a studio. This is why the lighting in rock videos is often natural. Studios still are used in the rock genre, but almost never for the entire video.

Conventionally long shots are used in rock, because the focus is not about the artist as much as other genres. Whereas, as in other genres where the artist is 'sold' just as much as the music itself.

Especially with bands, a stop in the lyrics for an instrumental is a convention. Usually in this time the camera will be showing the instrumentalists.