UNLIMITED SUPPLY with Digital Music News Guest Episode: Welcome to the Music Lounge
Dec 31, 2025
Tom Freston, former CEO of MTV Networks and author of 'Unplugged', shares his remarkable journey from launching MTV to its international expansion. He delves into the challenges of starting the channel, the innovative strategies targeting youth demographics, and the unique culture that made MTV a pioneer. Tom recalls memorable moments like Live Aid, his relationships with artists, and how he managed label conflicts. He reflects on missed opportunities, including the Food Channel, and his humanitarian work with Bono, making this discussion a treasure trove for music lovers.
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Humble Beginnings Of MTV
- Tom Freston recalled being hired early at MTV after seeing a Billboard article about a new video music channel.
- He described the scrappy startup vibe, sharing an office and having one phone with John Sykes while launching MTV in 1981.
Why He Wrote Unplugged
- Freston wrote his memoir Unplugged during the pandemic, using spare time to stitch life stories into a narrative.
- He recorded the audiobook himself and framed the book as an adventure, not a business manual.
From Global Ventures To MTV
- After business school, Freston traveled, ran a clothing business in India and Afghanistan, and became a millionaire in his twenties before being wiped out.
- Geopolitical events and tariffs forced him back to New York deeply in debt, which pushed him toward the music industry.