How Did Music Influence Music During The 1980s

Music around the 1980s was all about making an image with also the popularity of TV shows, to accompanied artists became more important than ever. The 1980s reflected mainly on music. Several music genres included Rock and Roll, Hip Hop, New Wave, and Hair Metal, of which have influenced our music today. Arguably the most important event to influence music during the 1980s was the creation of the cable network MTV (Music Television). MTV was the first network to exclusively showcase music videos, making its debut on August 1st, 1981. The first music video to be played on the channel was, appropriately, the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," as music would forever change and the focus would shift from music and lyrics to fashion and theatrics,

at least in the world of pop music. The original concept of the network was to play music videos twenty-four hours a day, every day. And, while this has obviously changed since then, the innovative concept created a whole new breed of pop star.
Pop stars and their music changed in the 1980s with the help of MTV and a greater focus on image.

A new breed of mega-stars emerged, becoming iconic mascots for the genre and defining the decade through fashion, talent and persona. Some of the superstars to emerge were Madonna, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Prince. They experienced a level of fame and success not seen since Elvis Presley and the Beatles. These stars influenced fashion through their music videos, giving fans a first hand glimpse into emerging trends. Their songs set the gold standard for what pop music should be, and through constant reinvention they were able to navigate the pop culture world and keep themselves relevant. Thirty years on, they are still the standard that today's pop stars get compared to. There are several reasons they these pop mega-stars emerged, the main one being they were genuinely talented artists. Other reasons include a greater public interest in celebrity gossip, fashion and and increased obsession with pop culture. It also was related to the public having an increased disposable income and a want to imitate celebrity affluence. Changes in technology also contributed to the availability of music (MTV), better ways to listen (CDs and cassettes), and portability of music (the Walkman and boom-boxes). Lastly, a lot of these superstars' success can be accounted for through smart marketed by record companies and the artists' ability to look at themselves as

brands.
Fashion was rapidly changing in the 1980s and more diverse than ever before. Due to increased globalization of the world and pop culture trends in fashion spread faster than ever and were more widespread. Changes in technology and the expansion of cable television and networks like MTV meant that TV, Movie and Music celebrities' fashion was more accessible to fans and viewers and an increased obsession with celebrities brought fashion into the forefront of pop culture. The fashions and styles during the decade represented more distinct groups than ever before. In the past there would usually be one or two predominant styles at a time, whereas in the 1980s, several separate and distinct groups of trends were all sharing the popularity at one time.
One major change in society during the 1980s was the expansion of the middle class and the creation of a large group of upwardly mobile young professionals known as "Yuppies". This group of society suddenly had more disposable income than ever and was known for their focus on wealth and conspicuous consumption. Fashion was a way for these young business people to display their wealth and therefore became a very important part of their lives. Another trend related to this was the increase of women in the workforce and the effect it had on women's fashion and workplace clothing. Yuppies were known to be focused on the brand of the clothing more so than any other detail. They were also largely influenced by TV shows, MTV, and movies much like the rest of the population. The media influence on fashion of the time was immeasurable. Music videos showcased fashion in a way that had not been seen before and the media started to focus on a new batch of young and interesting celebrities, making the gossip more interesting than ever. As news began to report on celebrity gossip, more and more of the wealthy young stars' daily fashion was featured and personal styles became more and more defined. Young people could then easily head over to the nearest mall and find stylish new clothes to imitate the trends they saw their favorite artists and movie stars wearing in their latest music video, movie, or public appearance. This was also one of the first times that fashion models became celebrities and celebrities became fashion models. Popular stars like Michael J. Fox became brand spokespeople for designers like Calvin Klein. Fashion started to become an integral part of the definition of celebrity and it has become an even more important factor since the 1980s.