45 years ago: MTV launched a new era of music

On August 1, 1981, Music Television—known as MTV—launched its first broadcast with The Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” ushering in a new era of pop music.

“The best of TV combined with the best of radio,” video jockey Mark Goodman told the audience in the wee hours of the night. 

It turned out to be a potent mix, with video becoming as important as the music itself. Among the first videos shown on MTV were Pat Benetar’s “You Better Run,” Rod Stewart’s “She Won’t Dance with Me,” and The Who’s “You Better You Bet.”

Over the decades, MTV went through many different phases before ultimately fading as cable TV was replaced by the internet—but not without forever leaving its mark on music.

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