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

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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.

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Pete

Pete

Mr. Eighties
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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.
 
It changed everything. And not always in a good way. Before MTV a band could be ugly as sin and still dominate if the music was strong. After MTV you needed hair, style presence. Record labels started building acts around image strategy. That is not nostalgia talking, that is industry reality. That said some artists mastered the format. Michael Jackson basically rewrote the rulebook. So I guess it depends who you ask.
 
For me MTV made the 80s feel larger than life. I can still picture the first time I saw certain videos. It wasn’t t just background noise. It felt cinematic. I do miss when a song could stand on its own without needing a storyline or special effects. Maybe that’s the truth. It made the 80s unforgettable and changed music forever at the same time.
 
Oh it absolutely made it better. I remember sitting on the floor in front of the TV waiting for my favorite videos to come on. It felt like an event. You didn't just hear Madonna or Duran Duran you saw them. The fashion the attitude the drama. It made the 1980s feel alive in a way radio alone never could. Some incredible singers who didn’t fit the look didn’t get the same push. So yes it changed things. Still I wouldn’t trade those afternoons for anything.
 
One we all can agree on is that MTV was a game changer for music. I enjoyed a lot of the music videos that came on. They had substance and lots of them felt like I was watching a short film. Like a real short film lol. Even into the early 90s they were good.
 
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