MTV's Loss of Music Overtime
 

Picture On August 1, 1981, at 12:01 A.M. Music Television (MTV) was introduced to the nation. The purpose of the network was to present the young generation with music on another level, visuals. MTV kicked off the start of something new with an ironic, yet suitable, video of the Buggles’s “Video Killed the Radio Star”. The next few decades only made it better for MTV, but with time comes change, and this network’s change may have turned for the worst.

MTV was able to last several years from airing music videos, as well as the Video Music Awards. Then, around 1987-88, a new variety of shows began to appear on the network. Monty Python’s Flying Circus and the game show Remote Control were some of the shows, but music videos still remained the main point and kept the majority of MTV.

Picture On May 21, 1992, MTV took an epic step, airing the first episode of The Real World, the network’s first reality show. The show is based on seven strangers living under one roof. The first season was based in New York. Until today, it remains the longest running program in MTV history.

[With “The Real World” having kicked off the beginning of reality television, the succeeding years introduced more music distant shows. These shows include; Beavis and Butt-head, Road Rules, Daria, and more seasons of The Real World.

MTV still showed hope for music in September 1998, when Total Request Live was broadcasted, hosted by Carson Daly. TRL was a sow solely based on a countdown of the top 10 music videos, chosen by MTV viewers. Soon enough, TRL would be the only music related show to air on MTV.

Picture Overtime, MTV hit some kind of avalanche, where all relation to music just went downhill and more and more reality shows were being broadcasted.

The year of 2005 is what seems to be the year that the internet takes over. Both YouTube and MTV Overdrive are launched, offering streaming video through the web. Most opinions say that MTV had to branch out to more than just music in order to keep its viewers, since all music videos could now be conveniently found online.

Remember TRL, music’s last hope on MTV? This picture shows the original host, Carson Daly, and the other guy who took over after him, Damien Fahey on the show’s last premier. TRL was officially cancelled in September of 2008.

Picture Not too long ago, in February, 2010, MTV announces that they have dropped the “Music Television” slogan from beneath their logo, the logo that they have kept for about 28 years. Majority of articles based on the logo change only express the opinion of those who think that, “Finally! MTV admits they no longer show music.”

Picture GraphJam, an internet fad, shows this graph of what shows on MTV through the years. Even though this graph is only for amusement and nowhere near accurate, it can be said that the opinions of many can agree to what is shown.

uhhh... ok?

did you also know that snow turns to ice when it's really cold then turns to water when it warms up and then turns to air when it gets really hot?

seriously though, thanks for pointing out the obvious.

also, why are you listing Beavis & Butt-Head as a reality show detriment to the network. those two characters proved to be quite influential with their 'tastes' and their shows always showcased a handful of video clips, not always in their entirety but credits were always broadcast. Rob Zombie has flat out credited White Zombie's success to that show. Kip Winger blames his bands' lack of success on that show as well.

really though, how would it be a sound business decision for MTV to keep focusing on playing music videos when everything is available for much cheaper, easier, quicker, and tailored specifically to the audience on the internet?

Took you long enough to notice.

They still have 3 channels dedicated to music videos.

A)Where was this copied and pasted from?
B)Epic bin dun.

You don't have to be so harsh on the thread guys. We all know MTV went down hill... but it's nice to have a little time line like this. Thanks!

so how do overtime periods work for music networks?

do they just get their best VJs to compete at throwing to videos? maybe see how quickly a producer can whip together a half dozen flash cuts in an interview piece? a competition to see how many times a VJ can ask the same insipid questions without repeating themselves?

thank you for bringing this to my attention

Well, the person that posted this must have felt it was incredibly vital. This was their one post, then they bailed.

Um.. yeaahh I know it's stating the obvious, but I was required to post my assignment out to public, generally to recieve feedback.

I'm not even a big forum person, just had to do it for class... Thanks anyways lol.