Are Lyric Videos Worth It?

Over the years I’ve managed to rack up over 17K subscribers to my YouTube channel despite only having a couple of “real” videos.

Sure, I could take my phone to the beach and lipsync. But I won’t.

I’ve spent my entire adult life learning how to play the piano, sing, write songs, arrange, mix and master.

Why would I pair the fruits of all that labor with amateur visuals?

Of course, I could hire a professional to produce a video for me, but we’re looking at $5K+ for something decent.

Lyric videos are a nice middle ground. A decade or so ago I made a few with $50 software and they were… adequate. Just the words scrolling up the screen like end credits.

These days, that won’t cut it. Listeners are used to seeing professionally produced lyric videos.

So when Andrew Southworth offered to let me test out his new lyric video service, I jumped at the opportunity.

They combine 2D matte paint graphics and 3D compositing to match the aesthetic of the song.

“She’s Made of Wires” follows a protagonist in a romantic relationship with a robot, while secretly yearning for the genuine emotional connection that only a human lover can provide.

Here’s what they came up with:

Are you impressed? I most certainly was!

I asked in the YouTube comments and on social media if lyric videos are better than just using the cover art, or if they’re just a cheap excuse for a “real” video.

The responses were overall quite positive:

This one is about as critical as they get:

Overall I think lyric videos are a great way to extend the lifespan of a promotion.

Releasing a cover art video (like this) on release day and following up after two weeks with a lyric video seems to be a winning formula.

You can get your own lyric video from Genera Studios for $200 using my referral link, which will earn me a small commission towards future experiments.

For an extra $35, you can also get a vertical version for social media. The option didn’t exist when they made my video or I definitely would’ve done it!

What do you think? Are lyric videos worth it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

And if you use Andrew’s service, please share a link to your video below. Maybe I’ll add it to the post!