WI: No MTV (or anything similar)

There was shows like tbs night tracks and others. It wasn't just MTV . There was a market for videos and stuff.

You would need to kill the outlet of video

Things like the wall.. The zep movie and other items proved success for live concerts and or abstract videos
 
Last edited:
Rap music takes longer to reach the white suburbanites teenagers, while MTV first started out being slow to play videos by black artists but after Michael Jackson's videos from Thriller gained more rotations MTV found out that they did not lose viewers but actually gained them.
MTV then starts playing rap and Hip-Hop starting in 1984.
 
Rap music takes longer to reach the white suburbanites teenagers, while MTV first started out being slow to play videos by black artists but after Michael Jackson's videos from Thriller gained more rotations MTV found out that they did not lose viewers but actually gained them.
MTV then starts playing rap and Hip-Hop starting in 1984.

MTV was pretty much rock, pop, and metal

Rap didn't gain real traction till 90s I agree it would hinder the growth. I'm not judging but MTV was bubble gum for the most part
 
Rap music takes longer to reach the white suburbanites teenagers, while MTV first started out being slow to play videos by black artists but after Michael Jackson's videos from Thriller gained more rotations MTV found out that they did not lose viewers but actually gained them.
MTV then starts playing rap and Hip-Hop starting in 1984.

I definitely think black artists like Michael Jackson and Prince have a harder time crossing over to white audiences without MTV, which obviously has huge knock-on effects for the future of pop music after about 1985.
 
There was shows like tbs night tracks and others. It wasn't just MTV . There was a market for videos and stuff.
Night-Flight-TV-series-title-screen.jpg

On USA network, starting June 1981 on Friday and Saturday Nights for overnight block of programming.

USA started out as a competitor to ESPN, and when this started, it was still very sports heavy

MTV started in August that year, and was nowhere near as avant garde
 
I definitely think black artists like Michael Jackson and Prince have a harder time crossing over to white audiences without MTV, which obviously has huge knock-on effects for the future of pop music after about 1985.

MTV really didn't play much of any black artists in the early years, till those two made it impossible to ignore their talent, and then put into heavy rotation.
 
No, as soon as the Writers Strike, the fuze was lit on cheap reality programming
That is a what if I could cheer though.. Reality TV is . Well this is a family show . But my repulsion and utter. Contempt for. The genre is shall we say.. Uh.. Known :)

Bleh
 

CalBear

Moderator
Donor
Monthly Donor
There was shows like tbs night tracks and others. It wasn't just MTV . There was a market for videos and stuff.

You would need to kill the outlet of video

Things like the wall.. The zep movie and other items proved success for live concerts and or abstract videos
Not before MTV. In fact when MTV first started broadcasting there weren't very many videos even available. The short form video, which is now remarkably common, was a very rare, generally a mix of experimental student films, training films, and cartoons.

The Wall didn't debut at Cannes until May of 1982, almost a year after MTV started up. The Song Remains the Same came out much earlier, but it was rarely seen after its original theatrical run. Keep in mind that VCRs were still relatively new with most video retal places being "Mom & Pop" operations (Blockbuster didn't start business until 1985).
 
Not before MTV. In fact when MTV first started broadcasting there weren't very many videos even available. The short form video, which is now remarkably common, was a very rare, generally a mix of experimental student films, training films, and cartoons.

the start
A list of 3rd&4th hour programming
1. Split Enz- One Step Ahead
2. Gerry Rafferty- Baker Street
3. VJ commentary
4. MTV: the first video music channel
5. VJ commentary: John Lennon's Double Fantasy outtakes/Talking Heads
6. MTV: Something new to planet Earth
7. Pat Benatar- I'm Gonna Follow You
8. (same as #6)
9. Tom Johnston- Savannah Nights
10. VJ commentary with REO Speedwagon In Concert promo
11. Commercials: a. The Movie Channel b. Leukemia Society of America, Inc.
12. MTV promo with runway landing
13. Rockestra- Lucille
14. Styx- The Best Of Times
15. MTV bottom of the hour bumper
16. Carly Simon- Vengeance
17. Iron Maiden- Wrathchild
18. VJ commentary
19. Commercial: Dolby
20. VJ commentary: "Roadies", musical toothbrush
21. Blotto- I Wanna Be A Lifeguard
22. MTV: "Television takes a giant step into the future"
23. Rod Stewart- Passion
24. VJ commentary
25. Elvis Costello- Olivers Army
26. (unknown)
27. (unknown)
28. MTV Top of the Hour bumper
29. Juice Newton- Angel Of The Morning
30. Rock Pile- Little Sister
31. VJ commentary
32. MTV: Your favorite music
33. Inside Line (the original name for MTV News): Record rating system proposal/The Clash/Bob Marley/The Pretenders on tour (note the lack of a graphic showing the dates)/Stereo "eye phones"
34. Bootcamp- Hold On To The Night
35. Cliff Richard- Dreaming
36. MTV: "Stereo and television come together for the first time"
37. Lee Ritenour- Is It You
38. VJ commentary with MTV Poster plug
39. PSA: Nancy Reagan for the Foster Grandparent Program by The Ad Council
40. Fleetwood Mac- Tusk
41. REO In Concert promo
42. Michael Stanley- He Can't Love You
43. MTV bottom of the hour bumper
44. REO Speedwagon- Tough Guys
45. Blondie- Rapture
46. VJ commentary
47. Another MTV: The First Video Music Channel
48. VJ commentary: Gary US Bonds at the Hollywood Bowl, Van Halen tour dates
49. The Who- Don't Let Go The Coat
50. MTV: Television used to be called a vast wasteland
51. Rod Stewart- Ain't Love A Bitch
52. VJ commentary
53. Pretenders- Talk Of The Town
54. Rainbow- Can't Happen Here
55. Andrew Gold- Thank You For Being A Friend
56. MTV Top of the Hour bumper (Alan Hunter becomes the VJ for the first time)




the wiki, of course has a list of what played that day and how much it repeated https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_music_videos_aired_on_MTV

The Buggles had the honor of the inaugural video, with the appropriate "Video Killed the Radio Star." Although the fledgling network broadcast 208 video segments in its first 24 hours, only 116 videos were actually played as many were repeated. For instance, "You Better You Bet" by The Who, which was also the first video to be repeated, "Just Between You and Me" by April Wine, and "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins were each played five times. Rod Stewart made the most total appearances that day with 16, with 11 of his videos being played
 
Last edited:
Not before MTV. In fact when MTV first started broadcasting there weren't very many videos even available. The short form video, which is now remarkably common, was a very rare, generally a mix of experimental student films, training films, and cartoons.

The Wall didn't debut at Cannes until May of 1982, almost a year after MTV started up. The Song Remains the Same came out much earlier, but it was rarely seen after its original theatrical run. Keep in mind that VCRs were still relatively new with most video retal places being "Mom & Pop" operations (Blockbuster didn't start business until 1985).

HBO had a show called "Video Jukebox", where they'd play an hour of music videos. Believe it began in 1977 or 1978.
 
HBO had a show called "Video Jukebox", where they'd play an hour of music videos. Believe it began in 1977 or 1978.

I think the relevant distinction is between music videos as a single show or filler content on a network that airs a variety of programming, and a network dedicated totally to music videos that makes them a cultural phenomenon. Without the influence of MTVs, videos would be much less important for promoting music relative to touring and radio airplay.
 
Top