This summer, MTV celebrated its 30th year on air. The television station “Music Television” or “MTV” has aired music videos of the hottest music artists from the beginning on Aug. 1, 1981.
Since then, MTV’s programming has greatly evolved. The first music video ever shown on MTV was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles. From showing music videos non stop, to annual award shows such as the Video Music Awards (VMAs), and the Movie Awards, to broadcasting from spring break in tropical places such as Panama City in Florida and Cancun, Mexico. MTV has had documentaries, most notably the “True Life” series in the early 2000s.
In the past five years, MTV began to show scripted shows such as “Awkward” and “My Life as Liz.” They also have created two successful series about teen motherhood called “16 and Pregnant” and “Teen Mom.”
“I watch ‘16 and Pregnant’ to see the challenges the girls go through,” junior Shania Doppelmayer said.
Today MTV shows only a few music videos.
In March 2009 a six-hour block of music videos, called “AMtv,” from Monday through Thursday began. A three-hour block of music videos is shown on Friday. They are the most recent return of music programming on the station.
Junior Baylie Caires said, “ I only watch MTV when they show music videos. Ever since they began airing different shows, I haven’t really watched much.”
In the past 30 years, MTV has been first in announcing major events taking place in the music industry. The VMAs are famous for jaw-dropping moments in pop culture history, such as Madonna’s opening performance of “Like A Virgin” on the 1984 VMAs and Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech for winning “Best Female Video” during the 2009 VMAs.
MTV has influenced pop culture and revolutionized the music industry by setting trends and keeping teenagers informed on new music.
A. Mongelli • Nov 1, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Gloria, yet again a wonderful piece. Sadly, I remember when MTV became popular…I was so bummed that we didn’t have cable!
Now, I don’t have a TV at this time but when I did, I was really disappointed with what MTV was putting out. I agree with you, MTV has abandoned the “Music Television” in which they were founded. I feel that that music being an art has been abandoned. Instead, “shock factor” seems to be the most important factor.
As an avid reader of Kaleo, and a big fan of you as a writer, I would like to know what your followers of the show “16 and Pregnant.” As an educator, I think it glorifies bad parenting. Real 16 year old mothers have problems bigger than what magazine cover will show their picture. I feel that if “16 and Pregnant” really depicted life as a teen mom it would be a show worth watching. Most of the girls shown don’t seem to put the well being of the baby, that counts on them for everything, first. Think about the way they raise their children, did your mother ever put fame before you? I believe that we all face challenges and we try our best, but MTV is promoting selfishness.
This is only my opinion, and I know I am getting old! I would love to hear Gloria’s followers opinions on this!
Thanks again Gloria for providing an article that makes us think, reflect, and hear other people’s point of view!