On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti No one wants their MTV
Nov 11, 2025
Craig Marks, a music journalist and co-author of I Want My MTV, recounts the chaotic launch of MTV and its revolutionary impact on music and pop culture. Maura Johnston, a seasoned music critic, highlights how shows like Thriller redefined music videos as cultural events. The duo examines how MTV's programming strategy broadened musical genres and discusses its challenges in the digital age with the rise of TikTok and YouTube, ultimately reflecting on MTV's legacy as a nostalgic brand amid a fragmented media landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Chaotic But Exhilarating Launch
- MTV launched at midnight on August 1, 1981 with five VJs and 250 videos, despite chaotic technical problems on launch night.
- Staff drove to Fort Lee, New Jersey in limos to watch because major cities didn't yet carry the channel, and the debut was both messy and exhilarating.
MTV Replicated Radio's Promo Model
- John Lack and early executives turned a small catalog of clips into a 24-hour channel by convincing labels to produce and donate videos.
- MTV used the radio promotional model: provide exposure in exchange for free content from record companies.
Visual Bands Rode MTV To Fame
- MTV amplified British new wave acts who embraced the visual medium and turned them into American superstars.
- Bands like Duran Duran and Culture Club succeeded because their theatrical videos suited MTV's format.
