What's Old Is New: MTV Plots a Major Return to Music

[Joey1986]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...-unplugged-kendrick-lamar-20160421-story.html

 

[Bob Eubanks]

And by coincidence they ended up playing more videos today than in...I don't know how many, but let's guess many many years.

 

[seatownmedia]

And by coincidence they ended up playing more videos today than in...I don't know how many, but let's guess many many years.

Of course, there are other MTV channels that still play videos, but they are not readily available on most cable systems, unless you go premium.

As for the main MTV channel, it is obvious one of the few hits is "Catfish", but I think they are planning ahead as to when this show will not be relevant. (a result of their own success, too many now "get it")...

So will be interesting to see how this all shapes out. MTV was certainly great in the early 80's with the all-video format. Not sure how this relates to 2016.

 

[Morgan Wick]

A return to music, but not music videos. But YouTube is the new platform for music videos MTV used to be, and at least with this shift there's a reason to call it MUSIC Television.

 

[TheBigA]

Like anybody else, they're just looking for a hit. Is they find that one show that becomes the new Jersey Shore or Road Rules, they'll be back in business.

 

[Mario500]

And by coincidence they ended up playing more videos today than in...I don't know how many, but let's guess many many years.

This was part of their response to the death of a famous musician and singer named Prince Rogers Nelson yesterday.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

A return to music, but not music videos. But YouTube is the new platform for music videos MTV used to be, and at least with this shift there's a reason to call it MUSIC Television.

That makes no sense why would MTV air music videos in 2016 when the demos they want are using various apps to get their songs. Even some of the recording industry has moved on to getting the audience directly on Youtube and others.

 

[TheBigA]

Even some of the recording industry has moved on to getting the audience directly on Youtube and others.

I'm not so sure the recording industry embraces YouTube. I think most of them put up with it because it's popular.

MTV's goal initially was to build a branded web platform that would hold the attention of MTV viewers. Unfortunately, MTV.com and the other Viacom websites were slow and filled with self-promotion. Which is why most users prefer YouTube.

 

[CTListener]

I'm not so sure the recording industry embraces YouTube. I think most of them put up with it because it's popular..

I've noticed that artists whose careers were jumpstarted by YouTube fame -- Colbie Caillat comes to mind -- have both "official" videos (VeVo) and numerous handcrafted photos-and-lyrics videos on YouTube, while established stars are more likely to have the copyright police requesting that YouTube take all unauthorized videos down.

 

[Bob Eubanks]

This was part of their response to the death of a famous musician and singer named Prince Rogers Nelson yesterday.

Wow, I had no idea that's why they were playing all Prince videos and Purple Rain. What a clever connection.

 

[TheBigA]

I've noticed that artists whose careers were jumpstarted by YouTube fame -- Colbie Caillat comes to mind -- have both "official" videos (VeVo)

Vevo is it's own platform that has a partnership with YouTube. That way, the labels still control some of the revenue, and can place some of their own pre-roll content. It's sort of a compromise deal. But only Universal and Sony are partners.

But you're right about established stars. Garth Brooks has been very vocal about his distrust of YouTube.