As the new year gets under way, time for some unfinished business with the old one. And we start with a look back at the interviews and the Q&As we ran last year. It's a countdown of the features with the most views on Promonews in 2025. It was a very busy year on the platform (and our Instagram feed) for interviews with members of the music video community, leading to longer-read features on the making of various important videos through the year. We talked to variety of professionals about their work via the SNAPSHOT Q&A in the first half of the year, then focussed more on in-depth behind the scenes interviews with directors about specific videos and other projects - including a few that had a huge impact on popular culture in 2025. And we celebrated the life of a legend of the music video business who passed away last year.So to begin our review of the year, here are the 15 top features from 2025 - our most popular and most-read long-read articles, according to website views, including links to the full articles.And there's more to come: the most popular videos featured on Promonews, in terms of views; also our pick of the New Directors and the Hot Directors from the year. And quite possibly more besides... 15. BTS: Olivia de Camps on Danna's Khe Calor | 'The second I heard the song, it felt like pure melodrama.'The SMUGGLER director talks about celebrating and subverting the telenovela in her breathless epic for the Mexican pop star and actress Danna. Sponsor banner: SMUGGLER 14. From casting to visual storytelling - Louise Collins on her directing debut for Sylvie Wiley’s 'Stranger In My Sheets'Louise Collins, who has been involved in numerous music videos as a casting director, has now made the leap into directing a music video for British-American singer songwriter Sylvie Wiley, capturing the extraordinary skills of aerial dancer Izzy Bloomer. Promonews talked to Louise to find out how it happened. 13. Three videos, four days : Alex Gargot on the challenge of his SAINt JHN trilogyFrom the POV of a bullethole, to a jealous robot, to it's reanimated remains... the CANADA director explains how he made three distinctly different videos for the Guyanese-American singer's new album Festival Season, that have a common thread.Sponsor banner: CANADA 12. Will Wightman on This Place Is A Sh*thole: 'This was part-experiment, part-therapy'It's not a music video, but we still love Will Wightman's new short film - four minutes of high-octane comedy horror thrills, introducing one of the most ingenious monster creations of modern times. We discover the Blinkink director wanted to explore the potential of an unusual camera -and exorcise a few demons.Sponsor banner: Blinkink 11. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Henry Howardhttps://www.promonews.tv/interviews/snapshot-qa-henry-howard/90422The ELMNTL colourist makes a plea for better communication with creatives, reveals Swift-related fun times - and his teeny obsession with Wicked...Sponsor banner: ELMNTL 10. BTS: Bonnie MacRae on Chloe Slater's Harriet | 'Normal People still feels so relevant.'The Spindle director’s debut music video pays tribute to a modern TV classic. She explains how it happened, and why it needed to be as faithful to the original as possible.Sponsor banner: Mouthpiece 9. Joe Connor on capturing Ireland’s giant waves for Gregory Alan Isakov's Mistakes: 'You had to feel the surfer is on a knife edge.'He has made an awesome black and white surfing film for singer-songwriter Isakov - a passion project, shot in Ireland, that stands comparison with a certain famous ad. It was time to ask the Rogue Films director some questions.Sponsor banner: ROGUE 8. BTS: Jake Erland on Olivia Dean’s Nice To Each OtherDirector/DoP Jake Erland’s recent video for Olivia Dean elevates the singer's charming on-screen presence by referencing Hollywood musicals and classic fashion shoots. We asked Jake some questions about the project.Sponsor banner: Park Pictures 7. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Tohé CommaretThe award-winning French director on success at the Berlinale, shooting her KUKII promo in Cairo and approaching music videos as experiments in filmmaking.Sponsor banner: FRIEND 6. Zac Dov Wiesel on Megan Thee Stallion's Whenever video: "It was super-fast and furious."We spoke to the Pulse-signed director about his breakthrough into the big time, making a video for one of American hip-hop's most visually astute superstars.Sponsor banner: Pulse Films 5. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Rianne WhiteThe Mouthpiece-repped director on working with her idols, moving from Edinburgh to London (with geese) - and the need for greater mental health support to cope with the demands of the industry.Sponsor banner: Mouthpiece 4. 'No-one knew what would happen before this tour started.' | Daniel Broadley on creating video postcards for Oasis Live '25The KODE director has spent the past few months with Oasis on their spectacularly successful comeback tour - mostly pointing his camera at the fans. It's not only led to a remarkable document of the biggest pop culture moment of the year, it's also elevated what is possible in the live concert space.Sponsor banner: KODE 3. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: DON ProdThe REBEL-based directing duo on their unusual start in film, how shooting 6-a-side football led to making music videos - and embracing the terror of tight turnarounds.Sponsor banner: ROGUE 2. Stuart McIntyre on making Sam Fender’s People Watching video - 'Andrew gave more than I could've ever asked for.'The commercials director, making his very first promo, says a shared experience with the acclaimed actor drove the project - and his love for a classic Gus Van Sant movie. 1. 'Where would we be without him?' Family and friends pay tribute to Oil Factory co-founder Billy Poveda, who died last monthBilly Poveda, producer and 'pioneer and visionary of music video', passed away a few weeks ago. We spoke to his wife Heidi Herzon about the man who nurtured careers and made great work - and will always be remembered for his can-do attitude and personal warmth.

Here's the top 10 'most viewed' videos on Promonews last year - which are the videos we featured in 2024 that have gained the highest number of page reads.Presenting the list in reverse order, here the videos from 10 to 1 - and you can find the 'Most Viewed' stories from 20 through to 11 here. 10. Khruangbin 'A Love International' by Scott Dungate"After making two award-winning videos for Khruangbin, Scott Dungate reunites with the Texan band for a third time - and the video for A Love International will surely be attracting more honours."Director: Scott DungateEditing company: Trim Editing 9. Lisa 'Rockstar' by Henry Scholfield"Just released and already breaking the internet, LISA from K-Pop titans BLACKPINK launches her first solo project in three years with a breathtaking video directed by Henry Scholfield..."Director: Henry ScholfieldProd company: Academy FilmsVFX company: Black Kite Studios 8. Eminem 'Houdini' by Rich Lee"More than 25 years since Eminem first created his iconic alter-ego, Slim Shady is back - and Em puts the old team back together, including director Rich Lee, for the hugely entertaining video for Houdini."Director: Rich Lee 7. Soft Play 'Everything And Nothing' by Thomas Davis"Thomas Davis directs a last hurrah for Soft Play - and what a way to go out."Director: Thomas DavisProd company: Common People Films 6. Paul Heaton 'Fish ‘n’ Chip Supper' by Andy Hylton"Andy Hylton directs his tenth music video for Paul Heaton telling the tale of a Manchester husband’s mission to get the fish supper being scuppered by his mates down the pub - featuring Pearce Quigley and Diane Morgan as his 'hangry' wife."Director: Andy Hylton 5. Fontaines D.C. 'Starburster' by Aube Perrie"There is [a] sense that somehow Chatten has wondered into other worlds, and we are finding out about those worlds from his perspective... The use of an inhaler puff to break up the structure, is also very effective device to highlight the fragmented, almost unreadable nature of the narrative."Director: Aube PerrieProd company: Pulse FilmsLabel: XL Recordings 4. 21 Savage 'redrum' by Danny Seth"London-born, LA-based musician and director Danny Seth directs an intense multi-format promo for London-born, Atlanta-raised rapper 21 Savage - back in the land of their birth."Director: Danny SethProd company: Trim Editing 3. Tommy Cash 'Untz Untz' by Alina Pasok, Tommy Cash"Alina Pasok and Tommy Cash direct a jawdropping and hilarious video for the Estonian dance superstar's Untz Untz, putting an outrageously saucy spin on an Olympic-style multi-sport event."Directors: Alina Pasok, Tommy Cash 2. Yunchan Lim 'Franz Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3 "Love Dream" (Live Performance)' by Tom Ringsby"Tom Ringsby disrupts the conventions of capturing classical music performance in an ambitious promo for one of the world's greatest young pianists, Yunchan Lim."Director: Tom RingsbyProd company: Intergalactic Studios 1. Jamie xx 'Treat Each Other Right' by Rosie Marks"Photographer Rosie Marks makes a big impression with her music video directing debut for Jamie xx: an intriguing cast of characters gather in a London club - with a chef with a passing resemblance to Gordon Ramsay - for a night of unhinged revelry."Director: Rosie MarksNEXT on Best of 2024... Top Directors

Our review of 2024 continues with our Directors Of The Year - split into three lists.And firstly, it's our pick of the best New Directors. They made their first appearance on Promonews in the past year - some already having made a big impression, and others who show terrific potential to do so.Following these first 15 choices. look out for our next two Directors Of The Year lists... Luna CarmoonFontaines D.C. 'Here's The Thing' by Luna CarmoonTaking the unconventional route of making her music video directing debut after directing her first feature (Hoard), Luna Carmoon made a striking impact with two remarkable videos for Fontaines D.C. She's a singular talent that will hopefully flow freely between features and music projects for a long time to come. Director: Luna CarmoonProd company: Prodco (PRO)Editing company: Trim EditingDirector's Rep: Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK Charlie & Charlieshortstraw. 'Good For Nothing' by Charlie & CharlieCharlie Drinkwater and Charles Gall have collaborated regularly for some years, whilst working at Island Records and then subsequently, with Drinkwater art directing and Gall directing. But their first outing as a directing team came for feisty Coventry rapper shortstraw last year, before they made a big leap forward with a 20 minute longform for Wasia Project. And a visual album for James Arthur is on its way. Directors: Charlie & Charlie DONPRODCentral Cee X Raye 'Moi' by DONPRODIsle of Wight natives DONPROD have made a real impact in grime videos and beyond in the past couple of years, working with most of the scene's major players in promos and branded content - slighly beyond our radar until they joined the roster at REBEL.@Rogue. So their first appearance here was one of the blingiest of UK grime videos last year - Central Cee and RAYE's conspicuous shipping expedition to Paris.Directors: DONPRODProd company: REBEL @ Rogue FilmsDirector's Rep: Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK Jackson Lee ForsytheSasha Keable 'Hold Up' by Jackson Lee ForsytheWith an apprenticeship that included working on sets of Edgar Wright and Steve McQueen features, with original aspirations to be a cinematographer, Forsythe has been honing his craft to create outstanding imagery, winning a YDA at Cannes. It's evident in the vivacious video for Sasha Keable - gritty and authentic but also radiating joy. His new for Rema is another big step forward. Director: Jackson Lee ForsythProd company: Academy FilmsEditing company: Trim EditingColour grading company: Studio RMDirector's Rep: Mouthpiece GrajperStone 'Queen' by GrajperMaking waves in his native Poland - including Cameraimage recognition - Grajper signed to FRIEND in the UK in 2023 but it took last year's video for Liverpool band Stone to show what he is capable of. A very cool, clever video featuring two versions of frontman Fin Power, skirting a line between the everyday and the uncanny. Director: GrajperProd company: FRIENDDirector's Rep: Leethal Reppin David HeofsOmar Apollo 'Spite' by David HeofsA Spanish director and graphic designer based in Madrid, David Heofs has brought his talents, particularly a striking use of colour, to several videos for US/Mexican artist Omar Apollo, and in Spite, celebrated Apollo's Mexican roots across a series of strikingly gorgeous set-ups.Director: David HeofsProd company: Bandiz (PRO) Abdi IbrahimSasha Keable ft 6lack 'Take Your Time' by Abdi IbrahimEstablishing himself first as a photographer, Abdi Ibrahim has been building his directors' reel in the US in the past couple of years, before he garnered his first UK commission, the steamily atmospheric video for Sasha Keable & 6Lack.Director: Abdi IbrahimProd company: new—landDirector's Rep: Mouthpiece Billy KingRushy X Antslive 'Estelle' by Billy KingBuilding on his association with AntsLive that has brought success at the UKMVAs (as producer on Number One Candidate, director of Cutlery), Billy King is going from strength to strength.Director: Billy KingEditing company: Trim Editing Rosie MarksJamie xx 'Treat Each Other Right' by Rosie MarksAs a photographer who chronicles the extremes of beauty culture, Marks throws up a mirror to society - which is also what she does in her first music video for Jamie xx, where a rum collection of characters and celeb lookalikes congregate in a swingers club for a night of unhinged revelry.Director: Rosie MarksProd company; Object & Animal (PRO) James OgramHoneyglaze 'Don't' by James OgramOgram demonstrated an impressive command for the form with his intense, claustrophobic video for Honeyglaze's edgy Don't. Has since shown his versatility with his excellent alien invader comedy for Fat Dog. Director: James OgramDirector's rep: Agile Films, André Reid-McKinlay Lea OtovicLonnie Gunn 'Jessie's Pitbull' by Lea OtovicComing into directing from a background in set design, Lea Otovic built a body of work through the year with videos for House Of Women, Lambrini Girls and three promos for singer-songwriter Lonnie Gunn, starting with the bold and sexy Jessie's Pitbull.Director: Lea OtovicProd company: Blend Films (PRO)Editing company: The Quarry (PRO) Ethan RossLexie Carroll 'Laundry Detergent' by Ethan RossRoss has directed a series of charming low-budget videos for singer-songwriters Lexie Carroll and Tinyumbrellas over the past couple of years, and this one for Lexie was the first we featured here. Very interested to see how his work progresses this coming year. Director: Ethan RossProd company: Big Tent Films (PRO) ShadrinskyYseult 'Bitch You Could Never' by ShadrinskyThe directing duo brought their fashion sense and penchant for organised chaos to the UKMVA-nominated video for Yseult. They have a winning formula - as proved with their next video for Jack Harlow - and the sky's the limit for Shadrinsky. Director: Shadrinsky TORSOCharli XCX 'Von Dutch' by TORSOThe directing duo's first appearance here came with the in-your-face video that kicked off the year of the Brat. They went on to make a the best thing that came out of Katy Perry's rather less successful album campaign. Directors: TORSOProd company: Division (PRO) David VuCamelPhat & Nadia Ali 'Endlessly' by David VuDirector, dancer, choreographer David Vu has gained a huge following for his inventive dance videos and TikToks. His passion to tell stories through dance and movement in promos should take off following the launchpad of his impressive debut for Camelphat. Director: David VuProd company: Caviar COMING NEXT in Best Of 2024: Hot Directors, Top Directors, Most Viewed Videos

The fifth part of our collection of Videos Of The Year list for 2024 includes videos for Kendrick Lamar, Depeche Mode, Fred Again.. - and two queens of K-Pop.Taken from hundreds of videos featured on Promonews in the past 12 months, and organised in alphabetical order of song title, this latest batch includes work by artists-turned-directors, directors-turned-artists-turned-directors, big industry names and several directors who have emerged to be the hottest talents in 2024, .These 10 picks include links to the original stories about the videos in Promonews, and to the profile pages of the directors and featured site sponsors. Chanmina ’NG’ by NAIVE Kim Youngio, Yoo SeungwooMore proof that K-Pop is where its at for the cutting edge of pop video creativity came from the heavily pregnant Korean-Japanese artist Chanmina causing choreographed mayhem in the office. Big thanks to Stitch/Homespun's Sara Faulkner for bringing this taboo-busting masterpiece to our attention in her Snapshot Q&A in November.Directors: NAIVE Kim Youngio, Yoo Seungwoo Kendrick Lamar 'Not Like Us' by Dave Free & Kendrick LamarOne of the big musical moments of the year required a visual to match and former 'Little Homies' Dave Free and Kendrick did not disappoint. With Kendrick engaging brutally with Drake in the lyrics, the video leans towards the artist's place in his community and celebrates artistic expression in his hometown. Directors: Dave Free, Kendrick Lamar Ravyn Lenae ft Childish Gambino ‘One Wish’ by Andre MuirTime passes through the years from the inside of a car, with small social exchanges taking place that mark a life, in Muir's beautifully crafted video for Ravyn Lenae, serving as a device for the singer's own journey to independence. Director: André MuirProd company: SMUGGLER Mustard ft Travis Scott 'Parking Lot' by Jeremi DurandAn ambitious warehouse performance, featuring car stunt work, impressive set design and a flourish of captivating narrative vignettes, it's a brillliant visual spectacle for US producer and DJ Mustard to consolidate Durand's growing reptuation. Director: Jeremi DurandDirector's Rep UK: Rogue Films Depeche Mode 'People Are Good' by Rich HallHall presents stylised scenarios of apparent wrongdoing or human frailty before revealing the reality of those situations. A worthy addition to the great canon of work for one of the best music video bands of all time.Director: Rich HallProd company: Riff Raff FilmsEditing company: HomespunGrading company: Black Kite Studios FKA twigs 'Perfect Stranger' by Jordan HemingwayTwigs and Hemingway extend the visual world that was introduced with the Eusexua video, with the artist using dance and drama to enact different roles in a series of sexually charged vignettes. Director: Jordan Hemingway Fred Again.. & Anderson .Paak 'Places To Be' by LOOSEThere's a delightful sense of magic being caught in a bottle as a jam session between two of the most exciting musicians on the planet is filmed in one joyous take. Just one segment of LOOSE's ongoing relationship with Fred as creative director but it's a defining moment. Director: LOOSEProd company: Stink FilmsEditing company: Homespun Supermodel 'Push' by Joe Connor and Emile RafaelA young woman attends a séance, where events take an even stranger turn than expected, in this riveting cinematic spectacle, co-directed by Emile Rafael and Joe Connor for the pair's own music project Supermodel.Directors: Joe Connor, Emile RafaelProd companies: Agile Films, Rogue FilmsEditing company: Trim EditingColour grading company: Black Kite StudiosDirector's rep (Joe Connor): Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK LISA 'Rockstar' by Henry ScholfieldScholfield returns to his old stamping ground to launch LISA's solo campaign, and celebrate her Thai roots in the neon-soaked action movie extravaganza shot in Bangkok, with astonishing choreo and VFX by Black Kite in London. Director: Henry ScholfieldProd company: Academy FilmsVFX company: Black Kite Studios Falling In Reverse ft Tech N9ne & Alex Terrible 'Ronald' by Jensen NoenOne of several mind-boggling productions by Ukranian director Noen for US metallers Falling In Reverse which takes Apocayptic visions of destruction to the next level, courtesy of frontman Ronnie Ratke's lazerbeam eyes. And this one is the biggest and baddest of the lot... so far.Director: Jensen NoenProd company: UnderWonder ContentDirector's rep UK: Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK COMING NEXT on Best Of 2024 - Videos Of The Year (Part Six), Directors Of The Year