Music videos have been on a steadily decline ever since MTV became an all out reality TV affair. Trying to compete with E! instead of sticking to the format that they initially created.

Luckily the world has become computer/internet savvy and can view media online in great deal. If this wasn't the case, music videos would all be on low budgets nowadays.

From what I know and have learned in college, record labels still do pay for music videos. In a few situations do artists pay for their own music videos. And that is when there is a conflict or issue between the artist and the record label. Artists do this for their fans.

I can assure you that Akon's label and Interscope Records are definitely paying for Lady Gaga's big budget videos. She isn't laying the money down for those videos, she doesn't have that much money to drop on them (I don't buy that at all). Her label knows that she is big and the "it girl" right now, so I'm certain they are willing to spend the money on her music videos.

As for Mariah's lower budget videos I do not know why Def Jam isn't spending alot on them, probably because they aren't happy with the project as a whole-would be my best guess. Because Rihanna who is signed to Island Def Jam Music Group too, has been getting some high budget videos.

In the end, it's all a business and a market game. They have to pay for whats selling and hot, in order to recoup the funds spent. if they don't think in return they'll get it back, why spend the money on music videos. With the end of shows like TRL and music videos on MTV in whole, why pay a ton for music videos-now that's the real question!

@number1k9