It’s August 1st and every year on my show I recognize this day as the day MTV first hit the air. MTV ignited a music revolution as a cable channel that became a music video version of radio. The first video played on MTV was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles was interpreted as a fulfilling prophecy about the significance of radio in the lives of a young generation. But that video didn’t kill the radio star and I am living proof that the prophecy never came true.
In the beginning and during the early years of MTV, elaborate and sexy videos stirred controversy with the parents of the young generations that were watching. The androgyny was a prevalent theme in many of the music videos and parents worried about the impact the videos would have on younger generations.
But there is no doubt MTV was a force. Today, essentially void of the parade of music videos 24/7, MTV is targeting today’s young generations with reality shows like, “The Real World,” “Catfish,” Jersey Shore,” Teen Mom,” RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” and “I Was A Teenage Republican.” (Well, maybe the last one never made it on the air.)
For the many who remember the musical and fashion influence of MTV, those days are a memory. Today I shared interviews I’ve had with artists who were part of the MTV experience. I talked to one of the original VJs, Alan Hunter, Rick Springfeild, Cindy Wilson - The B-52s, Simon Le Bon and John Taylor of Duran Duran, and Michael Score - lead singer of Flock Of Seagulls - all shared their thoughts on MTV and their music videos and a common theme was that they really didn’t know what they were dealing with at the time. MTV was a new medium and it developed as they did it.
Hear my conversation with another one of the original VJs, Mark Goodman in the audio player above.