We won’t lecture you – you’re well aware you can promote your music with a sharable, likeable, memorable music video. But who’s the best in the game when it comes to getting views? Let’s crack open 2012’s most watched music videos on YouTube. Heck – you might even learn something about how to promote your music.

Rihanna – “Where Have You Been”

No matter what you think of #badgirlriri, Rihanna’s star power is undeniable. This dance-pop/techno-house track got 149 million views last year and marked Rihanna’s 22nd Top Ten single on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video parallels to the global nature of the lyrics, taking Rihanna to an Egyptian desert, African hut, and even into a swamp as a nude aquatic reptile being. Moral of the story? Sex and house music sells.

One Direction – “One Thing”

With 183 million views in 2012, the boyband’s hit single is more than catchy – it’s absolutely adorable. The music video features the boys riding through London atop a red tour bus, flashing their pearly whites at hoards of screaming, crying Directioners. The guys also spend a considerable amount of time giggling at how adorable they’re being.  Lastly, about half the video is exuberantly excited teenage female fans. The lesson: be likeable and cater to your fan base.  What does a modern teenage girl love more than seeing herself tagged in pictures on Facebook? Seeing herself in your music video.

Justin Bieber – “Boyfriend”

Before the release of “Boyfriend,” Bieber revealed that the music video would not have a “steady concept.” His fans didn’t seem to mind, though, and the video racked up 189 million views in 2012 and temporarily broke the VEVO record for most views in a 24-hour period. In the video, Bieber drives flashy cars, dances with attractive women, and just generally does “the stuff of every newly minted heterosexual adult’s dreams,” as an MTV News critic put it. The message? Teenage girls’ buying power is infinitely powerful.

Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”

If you had an Internet connection and either eyeballs or ears in 2012, you’re probably familiar with “Call Me Maybe.” Nominated for two Grammy Awards, this song was a viral sensation last year. The music video garnered 357 million views in 2012, and was perhaps most memorable for the plot twist in the last ten seconds. Spoiler alert: her crush turns out to be interested in her male band mate. The takeaway from this music video’s unanticipated success is that everybody loves a surprise ending.

PSY – “Gangnam Style”

If you didn’t guess this one, we’re a little concerned. As the most watched video on YouTube to date, the video for “Gangnam Style” is perhaps the biggest international sensation since The Beatles. If you missed it, read our take on the South Korean homerun single here.

If you’re wondering “what’s the best way to promote my music?” Don’t skip making a music video. Make it sexy, surprising, and keep your fans in mind.