Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter: The New Era of Cinematic Music Videos

Music videos might not be getting the prime-time TV premieres or big TRL rollouts they did in past decades, but a pair of pop stars are making sure they’re still major events.

Last week, Ariana Grande premiered a video for her latest Eternal Sunshine single “The Boy Is Mine,” which stars You actor Penn Badgley as the object of Grande’s obsession. The visual also includes cameos from Brandy and Monica — nodding to their shared song title — as well as Grande’s transformation into Catwoman to combat the city’s rat problem and claw her way to Badgley’s mayor. This video not only showcases Grande’s vocal prowess but also her flair for dramatic, cinematic storytelling, blending elements of pop culture and high-stakes drama.

Meanwhile, Sabrina Carpenter unveiled her new single and video “Please Please Please,” co-starring her Saltburn actor boyfriend Barry Keoghan. This one also includes a cinematic storyline, with Carpenter and Keoghan’s characters meeting as the pop star gets bailed out of prison and the actor is on his way inside. The video’s plot adds a layer of intrigue and intensity, complementing the emotional depth of Carpenter’s music. Keoghan’s involvement brings an additional layer of star power, enhancing the video’s appeal to a broader audience.

The recent releases from Grande and Carpenter signal a potential resurgence of the music video as a major cultural event. Their cinematic approaches offer fans more than just music; they provide a visual narrative that enhances the listening experience, creating a multi-sensory engagement with the audience.

On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, hosts Katie Atkinson and Keith Caulfield delve into these splashy new music videos and why they might signify the start of a new trend in pop music. They discuss how these videos stand out in today’s digital landscape, where music videos often get lost in the shuffle of endless online content.

Also on the show, there’s chart news on Taylor Swift, who locks in a seventh week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, while Eminem makes a high debut on the Billboard Hot 100 with his new single, the “Abracadabra”-referencing “Houdini.” These chart movements highlight the dynamic nature of the music industry, where veteran artists like Swift and Eminem continue to dominate, even as newer stars like Grande and Carpenter innovate within the medium.

The Billboard Pop Shop Podcast serves as a one-stop shop for all things pop on Billboard’s weekly charts. Listeners can count on lively discussions about the latest pop news, fun chart stats and stories, new music, and guest interviews with music stars and figures from the pop world. Casual pop fans and chart junkies alike can hear Billboard’s executive digital director, West Coast, Katie Atkinson, and Billboard’s managing director, charts and data operations, Keith Caulfield, every week on the podcast, providing in-depth analysis and behind-the-scenes insights into the world of pop music.

As Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter lead the charge in revitalizing the music video format, fans and industry insiders alike are eager to see if this trend will continue to grow. Their commitment to creating visually compelling and narratively rich music videos could very well inspire a new era of cinematic experiences in the music world, blending storytelling with musical artistry in innovative and captivating ways.