Record labels never want to spend money on music videos because they cut down on immediate profits, but it's short term thinking. In the long run, an iconic music video provides cultural framework for an artist's longevity. Capturing them in their prime gives future audiences a way to experience the song through the performer at their best. Yes you can hear the songs whenever you want, but watching Michael zombie dance to Thriller or Britney naked with diamonds to Toxic are experiences that make those songs come alive decades after they dominated airplay. The artist has time traveled to future generations (this is why quality matters). There aren't many record companies that are patient for that kind of pay off, because there aren't many record execs who have that long of a shelf life anymore. Everyone has to answer to the next quarter but the artist and their music has to answer to forever.
