Short for promotional video. The industry term for a music video. It is an older term but still widely used within labels and production companies even as music video became the consumer-facing label.

You will hear promo constantly in label and production company conversations. It is the same thing as a music video, just more industry shorthand. It originated when videos were primarily made as promotional material for TV channels like MTV.

Promo in the real world

Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) was referred to internally as a promo film, not a music video, because that was the industry language of the time. The clip was created specifically as a device to promote the single without requiring the band to appear live on television shows. The term promo accurately described its function even before the format had a name.

Related terms

Commissioner, VEVO, World premiere, Behind the scenes (BTS), Treatment