The BBC's music programme Top of the Pops debuted in early 1964, necessitating quick pre-recorded submissions from artists unable to appear in person. Initial attempts were rudimentary, showcasing studio audiences dancing or simple footage. However, creative exceptions emerged, such as Roy Orbison's autumn 1964 performance filmed atop a London department store with stylised leg footage interspersed throughout.

The watershed moment came in late 1964 when producer Alex Murray oversaw The Moody Blues' rendition of 'Go Now,' employing atmospheric lighting and artistic composition to create what became the blueprint for modern music video. Rather than serving as incidental filler or extracted from a longer film, this standalone promotional piece demonstrated music video's potential as an art form, propelling the single to chart success and inspiring British musicians to develop the medium further before MTV's arrival nearly two decades later.