Shouldn't the fact that MTV rarely plays music now be a GOOD thing for music in general?

Question

Most of us have complained that MTV doesn't play music anymore. Prior to 1981, there was no constant television vehicle to showcase musicians. That has more or less come full circle, with MTV being little more than poorly conceived (not to mention poorly scripted and acted) dating shows and soap operas). Musicians should have a chance to shine on their own, and flaunt their wares.

This, by and large, hasn't happened. Even with the very powerful medium of the internet to create interest in a specific artist, it seems that MTV is almost a scapegoat in artists not getting their shot. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

I see where you're coming .... I do think it's childish that some artists use MTV as an excuse for not making, today the only things you can blame for not making is bad marketing and your music just not being good (the latter being the reason 50% of bands never go anywhere).

Yet you have to admit that MTV has cut the demand for decent music down to about nothing, fans of indie/rock/metal etc now where to find good music online and locally but the casual user or average high schooler has no idea that certain genre's even exist, and that rihanna, soulja boy, and Chris brown aren't the only artists that matter.....

Answer 2

I think MTV not playling music any longer is a Godsend for the music artists. MTV turned music into a money-hungry machine, where the clothes and make-up the artist wear is more important then the lyrics, the video is more important then how they sound live, and the celebrity the artist is dating is more imore important then the band members themselves.
Sadly, MTV is still up and running, and plays music videos early in the morning. But, thankfully, very few music videos are played unless it is a rap star unleashing vulgar messages, or teenage girls who sound like they have just sucked up helium and take off more clothes then anyone that age should.
We should be grateful that MTV has lost its integrity and is now using its powers to air highly scripted "reality" shows. I just wish they would take the "M" out of their name, so, perhaps, they will not disgrace music anymore.
I agree with you completely. You made a very good point. Finally, someone brought it up. :]

Answer 3

Here is the thing, MTV stands for "Music Television". There call letters clearly insinuate that it is a channel for music. However, there is maybe 2 hours a day of music, and an hour of that is in the middle of the night. If they want to do shows all day taht are scripted, they should have created another channel for there stupid poorly written shows. I dont think MTV is being used as a scapegoat, they did it themselves when they decided to stop playing music videos.

Answer 4

It depends on how Satellite Radio reacts. If they see MTVs niche open up, then all their programming will go the way of MTV in an attempt to tap into MTVs main consumer base. An over abundance of stations, catering to drawing in the dollar by way of inferior programming and looped Top 40.
My money is on the current MTV model being adopted by new venues, and radio programming starting to suffer.
At least when MTV monopolized that market, other mediums wouldn't try as hard to compete. Now, they can.

MTV used to play Black Flag, Social Distortion, The Vandals, and Bad Religion. Over time, they turned their focus to TRL.
Satellite Radio, in terms of MTV chronology, is still in the early stages. Let's cross our fingers they follow a different path.

Answer 5

That's a very positive spin on it. Still, it can't be a good thing to call yourself "music television" when all you show is top 40 vomit and reality shows. MTV was at its best when it played all sorts of music. Good, bad, metal, alternative, top 40, etc. That was part of its beauty, that being the diversity. I blame Clear Channel a lot more than MTV for the lack of exposure to certain artists.

Answer 6

I disagree Deke. When it was hot, MTV would expose many people to music that was not getting airplay on conventional radio. They served as forerunners for rap and new wave, etc. Their downturn was trying to satisfy the corporate folks, so they would put Headbangers Ball on after midnight. And they served as censors for musical ideas, when they shouldn't have. They should return to a musical format. Put NEXT and all of the other pseudo celebrity shows on MTV 2!

Answer 7

The original concept of MTV was great. Unfortunatley, it got corrupted by the almighty dollar, and quickly. They started putting out stupid @$$ shows, and it went downhill from there. Now you rarely see music videos, and when you do, most of them are overplayed commercial crap (mostly rap). It is high time that the plug be pulled on MTV.

Answer 8

I'd be happier if MTV ran cutting edge, experimental music videos like they did in their first two years of broadcast.

Answer 9

well not really. i always have known MTV as being a music channel-now its a drama channel really.

Answer 10

Divided, but now they focus on sex.

Edit: You're telling me you don't think they focus on sex? MTV couldn't go for 10 minute without showing some half naked female...