Lyric videos become strong way to promote music

ATLANTA (AP) - The lyric music video - which features words onscreen while a song plays - is not a new phenomenon in music. Some consider Bob Dylan the pioneer of the lyric video when he released his 1965 song Subterranean Homesick Blues, which features the singer holding up large cue cards with the song's lyrics.

But these days, lyric videos are used to promote new songs, giving fans something to hold on to between a song's release and the launch of an official music video.

It has become a part of the marketing repertoire for many of music's top acts, including Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Prince, Justin Bieber, Ke$ha, Maroon 5 and dozens of others.

Justin Timberlake, who recently released a lyric video for his new single, Suit & Tie, took things to new heights when the clip broadcast on TV - MTV to be exact.