This Sunday is the 40th anniversary of MTV. At 12:01am on August 1st, 1981, the iconic cable channel launched a revolution in rock ‘n roll and pop music by featuring videos along with VJ’s.
MTV launched by airing its very first music video, “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
Among MTV’s original VJ’s were Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, J.J. Jackson, Alan Hunter and Martha Quinn. MTV has certainly changed over the years from a music video focus to more reality-TV based programming, but for those of us who were around then (and had cable TV), our lives were forever changed that summer day in 1981.
Here’s a look at the first 10 videos to play on MTV on August 1, 1981:
- Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star"
- Pat Benatar "You Better Run"
- Rod Stewart "She Won't Dance"
- The Who "You Better You Bet"
- PhD "Little Susie's On The Up"
- Cliff Richard "We Don't Talk Anymore"
- The Pretenders "Brass in Pocket"
- Todd Rundgren "Time Heals"
- REO Speedwagon "Take it on the Run"
- Styx "Rockin' the Paradise"
[Source:Classic Hits Today]