Transition from radio to television
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
|
MTV was the first music-related cable television channel in the United States. This channel was launched on August 1, 1981 by Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company. MTV was the first television station based almost entirely on music videos 24/7 and quickly became one of the most popular television stations available. The very first video MTV put on the air was the Buggles' 1979 song "Video killed the Radio Star". In the Eighties, MTV was the "iTunes and Youtube of today". (http://tvtropes.org) Many bands and artists such as Madonna, Michael Jackson, and many Hair Metal bands had their careers skyrocket because of the explosive video rotation of their songs.
British Pop and Rock groups in the United States also played a major role in the success of MTV. Music videos had caught on back in Britain since the mid 1970s, thanks to the show Top of the Pops. Most of the videos on MTV in the early 1980s were American videotaped concert performances. MTV was in dire need for any music videos it could get its hands on, so they threw these British videos to full-fill airtime. |