MTV.COM is the
website of Music Television (MTV)
MTV (Music Television) is
an American cable television network based in New York City.
Launched on August 1, 1981, the original purpose of the channel
was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs.
Today, MTV still plays a limited selection of music videos, but
the channel primarily broadcasts a variety of pop culture and
reality television shows targeted at adolescents and young adults.
Since its premiere, MTV has revolutionized the music industry.
Slogans such as "I want my MTV" became embedded in public thought,
the concept of the VJ was popularized, the idea of a dedicated
video-based outlet for music was introduced, and both artists and
fans found a central location for music events, news, and
promotion. MTV has also been referenced countless times in popular
culture by musicians, other TV channels and shows, films and
books.
MTV has spawned numerous sister channels in the U.S. and
affiliated channels internationally. MTV's moral influence on
young people, including examples of censorship and social
activism, has been a subject of debate for years. MTV's choice to
focus on non-music programming has also been contested
relentlessly since the 1990s, demonstrating the channel's impact
on popular culture.
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The original purpose of MTV was to be
"Music Television," playing music videos 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, guided by on-air personalities known as VJs, or video jockeys.
The original taglines of the channel were "You'll never look at music
the same way again," and "On cable. In stereo." Although the concept
of playing music videos 24/7 has been long abandoned, MTV still
promotes and plays a limited selection of music videos on its TV
channel and web site. This section outlines the history of music
videos as featured on MTV.
IMTV's
near-ubiquitous presence in popular culture for over 25 years has led
the channel to be in the center of the ongoing debate over the
cultural and moral influence of music and television on young people
and society. The channel has thus found itself a target of criticism
by various groups about programming choices, social issues, political
correctness, sensitivity, censorship, and a perceived negative moral
influence on young people.
MTV was selected to produce the halftime
show in 2001 for Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa, Florida, in which the bands
'N Sync and Aerosmith performed. Due to its success, MTV was invited
back to produce another Super Bowl halftime show, which would spark a
moral influence debate and lead to sweeping changes in Super Bowl
halftime shows, MTV's own programming, and even music played on the
radio.
In 2004, MTV produced the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVIII, with
performances by such artists as Nelly, Diddy, Janet Jackson, and
Justin Timberlake. CBS, then-owners of MTV, aired the Super Bowl as
well as the halftime show live on February 1, 2004. However, the show
became controversial after Timberlake tore off part of Jackson's
outfit while performing his hit song "Rock Your Body" with her,
revealing her right breast. All involved parties apologized for the
incident, and Timberlake referred to the incident as a "wardrobe
malfunction."
Michael Powell, then-chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission, ordered an investigation of the show the day after its
broadcast. In the weeks following the controversial halftime show, MTV
censored much of its programming. Several music videos, including
"This Love" by Maroon 5 and "I Miss You" by Blink-182, were edited for
sexual content. In September 2004, the FCC ruled that the halftime
show was indecent and fined CBS $550,000.[58] The FCC upheld its
decision in 2006, but federal judges reversed the fine in 2008.
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