When is the last time you saw a music video on MTV?
No, I’m not talking about those 20 second clips of songs in between endless reality shows; I’m talking about a real music video. If you’re an avid watcher of MTV, like me, and a lover of music, you’ll notice the complete lack of music from what was once the go-to place for new releases and upcoming bands.
From the beginning of its existence in 1981, MTV has been viewed as the pioneer in music, with an overwhelming impact on the music industry and pop culture. The original purpose was to feature music videos 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with on-air hosts called VJ’s. MTV was to be a source of concerts, news and promotion, all for music.
MTV has introduced us to a vast number of artists such as, The Who, Nirvana, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Lil’ Wayne and Lady Gaga and countless others. MTV has helped these artists gain experience, fans, exposure, and has furthered their careers.
Just over the last 5 years that I have been watching MTV, I have noticed a steady decline in the amount of music that is shown and played daily. With the addition of reality TV shows to MTV, it’s as though the music has all but disappeared from the channel.
If you’re hoping to tune in to watch MTV at a reasonable time and catch a glimpse of a new band or watch a new music video, you’ll be disappointed, most of their music videos come on when the reality shows go off, between 2:00 A.M. – 6:00 A.M.
MTV is a source of entertainment, and for those few minutes when I do get to catch a glimpse of new music I thoroughly enjoy it. I remember a couple months ago when they had a special Indie music month, it was the single best month of music television that I have ever experienced. MTV should remember what its goals were when it first began, and revert back to that. They shouldn’t get rid of the reality shows all together, but there should be just as much time devoted to music as there is to other programming.
Although a leader in music and television, MTV has over the course of its 30 years lost what was once its true purpose: the music.
