Vertical vs. Landscape Music Video: Which Format to Choose?

Before you create a music video, decide where people will watch it. The shape of the video, its aspect ratio, should match the screen. A landscape video squeezed into a phone feed loses most of its impact, and a vertical video on YouTube sits between two black bars.

The quick answer

9:16 vertical: built for discovery

Most new fans find music on short-video apps, where full-screen vertical video is the default. A 9:16 video fills the whole phone screen, which keeps viewers watching.

Choose 9:16 when you are promoting a release on TikTok, Reels or Shorts, or making a teaser for a new single.

16:9 landscape: the classic music video

Landscape is still the standard for YouTube and anything watched on a laptop or TV. It leaves room for wide shots, scenery and storytelling.

Choose 16:9 when you want the "official music video" on YouTube or a video to embed on your website.

Square and portrait: made for feeds

1:1 and 3:4 take up more space than landscape in a scrolling feed without needing the full screen. They are a good middle ground for Instagram and Facebook posts.

Our recommendation: make two cuts

You do not have to choose just one. Many artists make:

1. A 9:16 version of the hook or chorus for social media, and
2. A 16:9 version of the full song for YouTube.

With AI, a second format is just one more click. Pick the format in the creator, and every shot is framed for that screen from the start, instead of being cropped afterwards.

Ready to start? Read our step-by-step guide to making a music video with AI.