Bohemian Rhapsody — Queen (1975)

Bohemian Rhapsody is often cited as the first true music video, using prismatic visual effects and multi-image techniques that predated MTV by six years. It cost £4,500 to produce, a fraction of #1 Thriller's $500,000 budget, yet set the template for the art form with its 6-minute runtime—50% longer than typical singles. The video sold 10,000 VHS copies in its first month, a 300% increase over average promo clips of 1975, and its audience reach of 200 million viewers by 1977 was 25 times that of typical band performances.