MTV and its Effect on American History

2913 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Popular music between the 18th and 20th centuries

MTV and its Effect on American History

In 1954, the release of "Rock around the clock", known as the original white Rock

n' Roll song and becoming number one on the pop charts, marked a turning point in the

history of popular music and it's success in the future.

In the late 70s, early 80s, Reagan was president, then Senator Al Gore's wife led

the crusade against inappropriate rock lyrics and founded the Parents' Music Resource

Center(PMRC). The hippies became yuppies and began to devote their time to raising well

mannered, preppie children. Rock music, a vital social phenomena among American youth,

had grown dull due to it's lack of style change from earlier music. Something new and

modern was in need. August 1, 1981, was a day that would change the history of music

forever. On this day, MTV first aired with its very first music video by The Buggles

"Video killed the radio star". This video was also the millionth to air on Feb. 27, 2000,

and third most aired in video history (Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" being the first).

This new way of presenting rock music, through a 24 hour cable music video channel,

would change Rock n' Roll forever. The first video was a new medium without

boundaries, which meant that no one knew how MTV would impact artists' careers or just

how big MTV would inevitably become. Along with MTV came the modo" Sit back, relax

and turn off your mind".

Music specials were already airing on certain television channels. In 1979,

NBC-TV aired a show at the UN General Assembly, to help UNICEF raise money to

combat hunger and to provide food for the world's children. The show featured stars such

as the BeeGees, Rod Stewart. Donna Summers and a few others. Another special was

aired on AB...

... middle of paper ...

...and whites closer together, primarily because of pop culture.

Today hip-hop, rap, ragae and R&B have been greatly accepted in the music industry and

have had great success. Blacks were given more respect and were looked up upon by the

Youth of America. Blacks have finally received their reward for the constant fight for

equality and acceptance throughout the years. Latin and Middle Eastern music have also

been greatly accepted. Women are now ro-models for the youth of America and are seen

as powerful figures equal to all. Women solo acts and groups were formed. Women were

a great addition to the rise of our economy.

MTV promoted and encouraged creative music. Many different kinds of music

have emerged from dance to country due to MTV's publicity and support of various new

artists. Without MTV many artist may not have achieved the success that they had.

Show More
Related

  • What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Media In Black Media

    1652 Words  | 4 Pages

    Similarly, David Engles talks about how the music and Blaxploitation movements was the outlet African Americans need to create a better condition for themselves. Engles states that “If supporters of the movements were correct, African Americans would be given a new empowered voice that could establish a self-created identity and possibly serve to counteract cultural oppression. Regardless of the outcome, these two movements extended beyond the boundaries of entertainment and became a battleground for African Americans to attempt and define a new black identity” (Engles). The music of gangsta rappers of the black community needed a platform to display their music and that’s where radio stations came in. Stations such as WDIA were developed after the war to get advertisements. The Newman article says “Radio was the most prevalent form of nationally sponsored mass culture in African American homes…” (Newman, 101). Davind Engles proclaims that “…gangsta rappers understood that in order to successfully connect with African American audiences and establish a level of authenticity needed to successfully appeal to them, they needed to portray a familiarity with and understanding of the unique characteristics and pressures associated with ‘hood life’” (Engles). And rappers needed to be able to tell a story that will provide a sense of association to the black listeners. And

    Read More

  • Australian Popular Culture In The 1950's

    929 Words  | 2 Pages

    Good evening and welcome to The History of Television. On tonight’s show we will focus on how and

    Read More

  • How MTV Maintains Its Dominance

    1929 Words  | 4 Pages

    Banks, Jack. Monopoly Television: MTV's Quest to Control the Music. (Colorado: Westview, 1996), p. 34.

    Read More

  • Rock’s Golden Age

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rock is derived from the genre Rock and Roll, and in the 1960’s passed through what many called the “golden age”. During this decade was when rock was reassured as a musical genre, and became due to the advances in the radio technologies on the last decade. During this period, several of the best rock bands and artists appeared like The Beatles or Jimmy Hendrix.

    Read More

  • Creating Suckers for Consumption: MTV and Pop Culture

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    In assessing the impact and effect of popular cultural forms like MTV, it is important to acknowledge the extent to which, rather than having them imposed upon us, we may instead appropriate or assimilate parts, whilst choosing to reject or ignore the rest. This, of course, has the consumer or viewer acting (or perhaps more accurately interacting) as opposed to simply passively receiving (Philo par 16).Even though critics of MTV stand strongly against the passive consumer, th...

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Music During the 20th Century

    1310 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the 1960s, and especially during the years following the British invasion, television played a key role in igniting the popularity of several American bands. “American response” bands such as Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Monkees gained considerable success due to the air time they received on TV. It was at this time that three main shows were providing coverage on new musical acts—both British and American alike—and these shows were being targeted towards a teenage demographic. CBS’s Where the Action Is, ABC’s Shindig, and NBC’s Hullabaloo were all major factors in the blossoming careers of the American response bands. This occurrence can also be attributed to British invasion bands such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, who ...

    Read More

  • Hip-Hop Culture in Los Angeles, California

    1044 Words  | 3 Pages

    This music culture of hip-hop also influences other cultures as well as being overhelmed by those cultures as well. That is why artists from hip-hop tend to collaborate and interact with musicians from other music cultures. Caleb told me that Kayne West was his biggest influence because not only does he like his music in general but he also likes the fact that he collaborates with so many people that are not in his music Genre. Caleb tries to emulate him as well by collaborating with people outside his genre and has even started singing acoustic and electronica, both forms of music he says will be in his next album. Hip-hop with its catchy beats and meaningful lyrics is one of the more popular genres in the country.

    Read More

  • Rock-N-Roll Music

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    After many of World War II’s harmful effects, the 1950s served as a period of time of musical change that reflected the dynamic of society as well as the traditional norms and values. Many factors contributed to this transformation. For example, the civil rights movement heightened many racial tensions, and the music produced consequently manifested this tension in itself. Rock-n-roll and R&B music universalized music typically associated with African-Americans, and many African-American musicians gained fame; however, as with any relatively-widespread success, there were many musicians as well who missed their opportunities due to the same racial segregation. While “radical” genres such as R&B and rock-n-roll laid the foundation for music future forms of music, the standard pop, jazz, and country music adhered to traditional values, and thus continued to maintain popularity amidst phenomena such as the Elvis craze.

    Read More

  • The Legacy Of Michael Joseph Jackson

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    people listened to and it was revolutionary. Most of the music we listen to now is based

    Read More

  • Rock And Roll Essay

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although the birth of rock 'n roll is held to be debatable, primarily based on individual opinion, it is probable that its advent initiated during the 1950s. America experienced a great deal of post-war (WWII) economic prosperity in resemblance with the affluent Roaring Twenties. The British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said during this era that “America at this moment [stood] at the summit of the world” (History.com Staff 1). In comparison with the Jazz Age mania that endured throughout the Roaring Twenties, rock 'n roll served as the modus operandi, or method of approach, to a fresh and enlightened age: a step towards modernization. Above else, the music was the medium through which self-expression charged through the youthful minds, bold and unrestrained. With an increasing appetite for destruction and independence, America's youth relentlessly dared to question stagnant mindsets and authority by rewriting the rules of society, one record at a time. Rock 'n roll was their means to achieve that rebellion, "hardening parents and school authorities in their opposition to rock and roll" (Rockin' th...

    Read More

  • The Impactline Of Jazz's Impact On Music History

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    History is often written as if there is a defining moment where everything changes. It is most often the case however, that a series of events and stresses are the culprits of such change. As is the case of the decline of jazz’s popularity. Sure some may point to The Beatles landing in JFK airport and others may say Elvis’s television appearance. But in reality, there were many evolvements both technological and cultural that lead to what some may call the “great decline” in music history. The television itself had a huge impact on our both our culture and technology, and still stands today as one of the larger influences of our society. Considering the era, one can’t talk about jazz without mentioning the civil rights movement. Likewise, jazz itself cannot be mentioned without talking about drugs and their influential impact on it’s musicians such as Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, and John Coltrane. At it’s peak Jazz music could be heard in nearly every hall of every major city in America. Big bands were everywhere, musicians were endless, and the nations appetite see...

    Read More

  • History of Rock and Roll

    1146 Words  | 3 Pages

    1 Gass, Bryan "A History of Rock Music: The Rock and Roll Era" World Book. Ed. 6. 1994.

    Read More

  • The Merchants of Cool

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    When the documentary was produced, media exposure was limited to private and expensive mediums such as television, movies and radio. These outlets were plagued with marketing agendas designed to sell products under the guise of authentic music and entertainment. Formerly non-existent cultural archetypes such as the boy band, pop diva, and gothic artist were created and promoted by corporations with the intent to profit from their fame. This systematic fabrication of teenage culture was achieved through the monopolization of popular media by people and companies with money. This created a narrow and one-dimensional mainstream cultural media, limiting the prefere...

    Read More

  • Effects Of Technology On Hip Hop

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    The most significant down side to technology is the loss in revenue from album sales. Illegal downloading of music has become prevalent in today’s society, and many artists—major or independent—receive little to no profit from album sales. Many companies, such as Apple, have tried combating the issue with protected file formats, but a loophole has always been found to bypass the protection. Unsigned and independently signed artists hurt the most, as they pay almost everything out-of-pocket to produce their music. The only feasible response to the loss in revenue, artists have found, is to increase tour dates. In today’s age, it is not rare to find artists who tour more than eight months out of each year. Touring has become one of, if not the only, reliable source of income for many

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Rock Music

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first section of this essay is Rock n' Roll of the 1950's, when Rock n'

    Read More

More about MTV and its Effect on American History

Open Document