MTV doesn't celebrate it's 30th Birthday because its viewers are young...

[TheCount]

"MTV as a brand doesn't age with our viewers," explained Nathaniel Brown, senior vice president of communications for MTV, who confirmed that there were no plans for an on-air MTV celebration. "We are really focused on our current viewers, and our feeling was that our anniversary wasn't something that would be meaningful to them, many of whom weren't even alive in 1981."


http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/heard/12618/mtv-apparently-wants-to-be-29-forever/

Silly. They are so desperate to be young and hip and they don't want to alienate their Jersey Shore loving tween demographic by acknowledging that MTV has been around longer than they've been fist pumping and spray tanning, and that at one point, they actually did play music videos.

[Phoenix]

Man did I kill a ton of hours in front of the tube when they played videos.


http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2009/09/22/gal_mtv_cast_members.jpg



Where are they now? http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/galleries/mtv_vjs_where_are_they_now/mtv_vjs_where_are_they_now.html

[Doomsday101]

They have not been MTV for years need to rename it lame reality TV.

[Sam I Am]

They have not been MTV for years need to rename it lame reality TV.

This is what I was thinking. They aren't celebrating 30 years, because MTV died well before then. All that is left is the name.

[Joshmvii]

They had to change with the times. They wouldn't even be able to get advertisers any longer if they tried to just play music videos, so I'm not really sure what people are complaining about. When you can pull up any music video on a smart phone, tablet, or computer in seconds you're not going to sit and watch a station that plays videos.

You don't have to enjoy their programming to understand why they put things on air that actually get them ratings and ad revenue.

[TheCount]

This is what I was thinking. They aren't celebrating 30 years, because MTV died well before then. All that is left is the name.

They dropped "Music Television" from their logo and name this year, the MTV just stands for "MTV" now, much like "Google" doesn't mean anything.

It's as subtle distinction, but they ditched the illusion of their being tied to music.

[Doomsday101]

They had to change with the times. They wouldn't even be able to get advertisers any longer if they tried to just play music videos, so I'm not really sure what people are complaining about. When you can pull up any music video on a smart phone, tablet, or computer in seconds you're not going to sit and watch a station that plays videos.

You don't have to enjoy their programming to understand why they put things on air that actually get them ratings and ad revenue.

True they had to put simple minded programs for simple minds I get that.

[bbgun]

Here's their philosophy: "If you weren't alive for something, then you shouldn't be expected to know anything about it." Talk about pandering to ignorance.

[Joshmvii]

True they had to put simple minded programs for simple minds I get that.

Did watching MTV give you a mind that types brutal run-on sentences? In all seriousness though, it's not like MTV is the only network that just plays pointless reality TV all the time. That's most cable and broadcast networks now. For whatever reason, people just love to watch people doing "fake real" stuff, whether it's pawn shops, ice fishermen, jersey guidos, or whatever.

They also try to have original shows on their network, but they don't exactly have access to HBO or AMC quality writers, so those shows are all ridiculous.

[Temo]

I feel like MTV always sucked.

[jimmy40]

Ok, I'll do it
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[ZeroClub]

I feel like MTV always sucked.
I liked the first dozen years or so.

[CowboyMcCoy]

MTV didn't want to hear it from the 30 something and 40 something crowd how they sold out, so they avoided it. IMO

[ConcordCowboy]

Here's their philosophy: "If you weren't alive for something, then you shouldn't be expected to know anything about it." Talk about pandering to ignorance.

Really...talk about stupid.

[jimmy40]

so who remembered this was the second video on MTVs first day?

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[jimmy40]

Wow, there was a lot of suck arse music that first day. lol


"Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles
"You Better Run" by Pat Benatar
"She Won't Dance" by Rod Stewart
"You Better You Bet" by The Who
"Little Susie's on the Up" by Ph.D.
"We Don't Talk Anymore" by Cliff Richard
"Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders
"Time Heals" by Todd Rundgren
"Take It on the Run" by REO Speedwagon
"Rockin' the Paradise" by Styx
"When Things Go Wrong" by Robin Lane and the Chartbusters
"History Never Repeats" by Split Enz
"Hold On Loosely" by 38 Special
"Just Between You and Me" by April Wine
"Sailing" by Rod Stewart
"Iron Maiden" by Iron Maiden
"Keep On Loving You" by REO Speedwagon
"Message of Love" by The Pretenders
"Mr. Briefcase" by Lee Ritenour
"Double Life" by The Cars
"In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins
"Looking For Clues" by Robert Palmer
"Too Late" by Shoes
"Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Surface Tension" by Rupert Hine
"One Step Ahead" by Split Enz
"Baker Street" by Gerry Rafferty
"I'm Gonna Follow You" by Pat Benatar
"Savannah Nights" by Tom Johnston
"Lucille" by Rockestra
"The Best of Times" by Styx
"Vengeance" by Carly Simon
"Wrathchild" by Iron Maiden
"I Wanna Be a Lifeguard" by Blotto
"Passion" by Rod Stewart
"Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello
"Don't Let Him Go" by REO Speedwagon
"Remote Control/Illegal" by The Silencers
"Angel of the Morning" by Juice Newton
"Little Sister" by Rockpile with Robert Plant
"Hold On to the Night" by Bootcamp
"Dreaming" by Cliff Richard
"Is it You?" by Lee Ritenour
"Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac
"He Can't Love You" by Michael Stanley Band
"Tough Guys" by REO Speedwagon
"Rapture" by Blondie
"Don't Let Go the Coat" by The Who
"Ain't Love a *****" by Rod Stewart
"Talk of the Town" by The Pretenders
"Can't Happen Here" by Rainbow
"Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold
"Bring It All Home" by Gerry Rafferty
"Sign of the Gypsy Queen" by April Wine
"The Man with the Child in His Eyes" by Kate Bush
"Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie
"Just Between You and Me" by April Wine
"Rat Race" by The Specials
"Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads
"Victim" by Bootcamp
"Tonight's the Night" by Rod Stewart
"Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe

[ZeroClub]

Not the earliest, but one of the more memorable ones.

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[Phoenix]

"The Man with the Child in His Eyes" by Kate Bush



This made that first day totally worthwhile. One speck of pure artistic brilliance and majesty amongst a veritable storm surge of drivel.

[big dog cowboy]

"Iron Maiden" by Iron Maiden


I would like to thank MTV for introducing me to Iron Maiden. They were not on the radio here at all back in that day. Funny how such a meaningless thing like that can have such a big impact.

[Sam I Am]

Ok, I'll do it
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The reality TV killed the video TV star. :laugh2:

[Reality]

MTV was revolutionary during the 80s bringing music to a whole new level. A lot of artists would never have been heard of it had not been for their videos showing on MTV and almost all artists sold a lot more music because of it.

It's a shame that MTV has sunk so low these days to showing nothing more than R-rated scripted (un)reality tv shows aimed at teenage mentality viewers who are easily herded together in front of anything with sex, profanity and violence and a penchant to relish in the misery of a pathetic person who is the random target each show for hate, ridicule and belittlement.

I want my .. I want my .. I want my M T Veeeeeeeee .... BACK!

#reality

[arglebargle]

MTV brought in the modern move to 'photogenic' bands and music. Can't play? Look good? No problem.

How many years were they on before they were brave enough to show a -ooh, scary- black person's video?

They did actually show videos then at least, that's true. They were a different avenue for exposure. Now they are a pop culture network.

[bbgun]

MTV brought in the modern move to 'photogenic' bands and music. Can't play? Look good? No problem.

How many years were they on before they were brave enough to show a -ooh, scary- black person's video?

They did actually show videos then at least, that's true. They were a different avenue for exposure. Now they are a pop culture network.

They played plenty of MJ's vids. :D

[CowboyDan]

I'll kick in on the celebration:


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[jimmy40]

This made that first day totally worthwhile. One speck of pure artistic brilliance and majesty amongst a veritable storm surge of drivel.drivel? you calling Juice Newton drivel? how dare you?

[jimmy40]

HeadBanger's Ball, wow that brings back some memories that I can't really remember.

[arglebargle]

They played plenty of MJ's vids. :D

Took them two years. While there were a few other black musicians featured, none went into 'heavy rotation' til Billy Jean. Though you could argue the case that it was the Rock orientation of MTV in play.

[SA_Gunslinger]

If I'm 20 or younger, I am completely baffled as to why MTV is called Music Television.

[Joshmvii]

That's why they dropped the music television from their logo. Now the MTV doesn't stand for anything except a brand that people know.

[SaltwaterServr]

I'll kick in on the celebration:


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Make this into the "Former MTV Fans Iconic Video List"

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One of my favorites of all time. Bought the cassette, wore it out, bought the CD no telling how many times:

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Even though he's a child molester...

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Best use of a violin:

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One of my favorites, but one of his lesser known songs to a degree. Clapton showing off in his iconic stance.

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Courtney Cox gets her debut:

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Enough for now. I could do this for hours on end.

Let's see some of your favorites from the days when the Astronaut still held the flashing MTV flag and artists were proud to be on the commercials.

[joseephuss]

Took them two years. While there were a few other black musicians featured, none went into 'heavy rotation' til Billy Jean. Though you could argue the case that it was the Rock orientation of MTV in play.

Jackson's Thriller album was not out when MTV started, so it took a couple of years before he started making real videos.

[joseephuss]

They had to change with the times. They wouldn't even be able to get advertisers any longer if they tried to just play music videos, so I'm not really sure what people are complaining about. When you can pull up any music video on a smart phone, tablet, or computer in seconds you're not going to sit and watch a station that plays videos.

You don't have to enjoy their programming to understand why they put things on air that actually get them ratings and ad revenue.

They strayed away from playing music videos long before smart phones and tablets came around. Even computers and the internet were not that common when MTV began doing more reality and variety shows than videos.

[Doomsday101]

I think the biggest thing I ever saw on MTV was the 1985 Live Aid concert
With events in the US and London. Led Zepplin reunites

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Queen and the list went on and on

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