If you’ve spent any time online this year (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?), you’ll know that video isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s busier than ever.
I just read a solid piece on the DIY Musician blog called Video for Musicians in 2025, and I think it’s worth bringing into our own little campfire here.
In a nutshell, the article drives home this point: video is no longer optional, it’s the campfire your audience gathers around.
Whether you’re shooting quick behind-the-scenes clips, full-length live sessions, or short-form vertical videos for the scroll-hungry crowd, your moving image is your handshake with the world. CD Baby lays out how today’s fans expect more than just the polished final product; they crave the messy, human, real bits too.
The piece talks about the shift from static, one-way music videos to dynamic, ongoing visual conversations.
Short clips, live streams, Q&A sessions, these aren’t just marketing gimmicks anymore, they’re part of the show. The article also reminds us that you don’t need to break the bank to play this game. A decent phone, a sprinkle of creativity, and the courage to show your face is enough to get started.
Here’s my take:
Video, for us musicians, is like the backstage pass we hand out to our listeners. It’s the crack in the door that lets them peek into our world, see the messy cables, the coffee mugs balancing on amps, the rough takes, the little mistakes that make the final track feel alive.
It’s how we remind people that there’s a living, breathing human behind the music.
I know for a lot of us (myself included) video can feel like one more spinning plate on top of songwriting, recording, gigging, and living an actual life. But maybe it’s worth looking at video not as another chore but as another instrument.
One that can be rough around the edges. One that plays best when you let it be honest and imperfect.
So, if you’re a musician wondering whether it’s worth hitting that record button, I’d say read the full piece from CD Baby. Take in their practical tips and examples, they know their stuff. Then ask yourself: what tiny glimpse could I share today that would invite someone a little closer to the songs I’m making?
If you’re curious, go read the full article here: Video for Musicians in 2025. It might just spark an idea that gets you out from behind the mixing desk and in front of the lens and I, for one, would love to see that.
