Did MTV Make the 80s Better or Did It Change Music Forever

Welcome to the We Love the Eighties Community

This community is dedicated to the music, movies, television, games, radio, and pop culture that defined the 1980s. It is a place for people who lived the decade, as well as those who appreciate what made it unforgettable. Members use this forum to check in during live radio blocks, share weekly listening memories, and talk about what the music, shows, and moments of the 80s bring back for them. Guests are welcome to browse selected discussions, while full participation requires registration. If you would like to understand the intent behind this community and how it is curated, you can read more here: About This Community. Explore current conversations, share your memories, and take part in a community built around real 80s experiences.

Join the discussion

See what members are talking about right now
Free registration. Facebook and Google login available.

Register Log in
Pete

Pete

Mr. Eighties
Joined
Apr 29, 2023
Messages
13,626
Reaction score
549
WLTEmtvPost.webp​

When MTV launched in the early 1980s, everything shifted. Suddenly music was not just something you heard on the radio. It was something you watched. Some artists exploded because they understood visuals. Others felt left behind. Image started mattering as much as sound.

So here is the real question. Did MTV make the 80s better and more exciting… or did it permanently change music in a way that was not always for the better? Were we watching a golden era unfold or the moment the industry started caring more about looks than talent.
 
I loved it. I was a teenager. We all copied what we saw. The clothes. The makeup. The way they danced. It felt like we were plugged into something bigger. But looking back now I can see how it pressured artists. Everyone suddenly had to be camera ready. I think some amazing voices never got the spotlight because they weren’t video friendly.
 
It was cool for about five minutes. Then every band started looking the same.
 
I lean toward it changing music more than improving it and not because the videos were bad. There were a lot good ones but because the industry shifted prioritie visual branding became part of the product.
 
Back
Top