Do you remember when MTV actually play music videos all day long?

Question

Now I'm lucky if I catch a couple but I'm not up at 6 am.

Answer 1

Yes, I remember. But right now, with what things have become, I don't know how much it would matter if they showed videos all the time. It's a machine now, running on various forms of self-promotion, product tie-ins, and a new type of payola no one seems to want to stop.

A company (I'll use Coke as an example) buys huge chunks of advertising on MTV, MTV shows interviews with bands whose tours Coke sponsors because Coke promises to buy more ads if they do, and MTV plays more bands Coke and other sponsors are likely to pick up in hopes of getting more and more deals this way, and more and more of a co-dependent relationship with huge companies. They select hosts based on their celebrity potential instead of music intelligence. They choose videos based on what record companies demand they do, promoting bands who have backing that will ultimately prove profitable if MTV follows the urging of that backing. Even popularity of the small selection they offer is usually chosen by viewers whose decisions have been manipulated without their even realizing it. The production company that makes the reality show soundtracks it with the artists they want to push from their sister recording division. . . it goes on and on.

It's so convoluted, it's like a cannibal snacking on his arm, letting it heal, and snacking again. Grotesque. And very little of any of it, even the videos, have to do with music anymore. What's funny is how people worried that videos would undermine the music. They didn't really---although they did make it nearly impossible for physically unattractive people to release music that would be profitable enough for record companies to sign them. But with the videos and some other changes in popular culture, a whole new type of celebrity adulation came about, with previously unimaginable distance and elevation of "stars." That was what ultimately undermined the videos as well as the music. Now the sole purpose of videos is to act as a commercial for a new song. It's important for record companies to find that way in, because with the death of creative/individual free radio, the only other method is through word-of-mouth (which you often can't manipulate) or actual commercials (which does work, but may not reach everyone, especially those with a DVR/TiVO.

DIY video internet sites have been and may end up changing this, but I'm sure there are powerful people at work to figure out how to quickly turn them or pull them into the same sort of hive of commercialization.

Answer 2

I remember when MTV was launched. We even taped videos we liked, but you'd have to watch continuously and hope to see one. I remember watching on Friday nights when they would have two videos "battle" each other and the top 20 countdown with Adam Curry. I just don't really care about music videos too much anymore, and I much prefer watching the other programming. If I want to see a video, I will look it up on line so I can watch it when I want to! :)

Answer 3

I remember when MTV aired their 1st video, "Video Killed the Radio Star". I won't say how old I was at the time.

Answer 4

back in the day with JJ Jackson, Alan Hunter and Marc Goodman..the good ol days..

Answer 5

I know EXACTLY what you mean, Yea Yea!!! Back in the day it really was MUSIC TV. Now, they should call it BWLRSTV - "Badly Written Lame Reality Show TV"!!!!

Answer 6

Yes i do it was great now it sucks they should change the name since it no longer is music television

Answer 7

Ahhh, the good ol' days. MTV and VH1 are horseshit now.

Answer 8

I loved headbangers ball. Now all they play is reality shows. Boring.....

Answer 9

Yes, that was a long time ago!!

Answer 10

yes i remember i believe i was 16yrs old. i'm 35 now. :o)