MTV-bashing is popular amongst my peers, for good reason. The network has seemed to have forgotten the "M" portion of its name. Outside of TRL, when was the last time you saw a video on MTV? Probably really early in the morning, when most reasonable people are in bed.
Instead of being able to catch the latest clips from Aerosmith or U2, we have to suffer through crap like the Road Rules/ Real World Extreme Challenge. Want to see the latest Three Doors Down video, or check out the latest from Dave Matthews? Tough, endure the umpteenth Undressed marathon. Sit through The Tom Green Show (who gets really old and irritating after ten minutes), and you just may be rewarded with a new DMX video. Or more likely another episode of Random Acts of Video.
On the rare occasions when MTV actually plays videos, it always seems to be the same thing: either glossed over teen pop stars, or rap-metal bands who sing about how bad life is and then go home in their AM General Hummers to million dollar mansions. Diversity? HA! Why expose the audience to a new artist when they can just cram Britney Spears or Limp Bizkit down our throats? What happened to 120 Minutes? Where's Yo! MTV Raps? Headbangers Ball?
You can add hypocrisy to the list of offenses now. Last night the network aired Madonna's latest video, "What It Feels Like For A Girl." It will be the only time they air it. Why? The video didn't meet with their ethical standards. Personally, I felt there was nothing risqué about the video. It was perfectly acceptable for heavy rotation. Maybe that's because I'm jaded. But let's go back to the issue of ethical standards. Ethical standards? How can a network that shoves Eminem down our throats 24-7 talk about ethical standards? A network like MTV, with whip cream bikinis on their Spring Break programming, telling me about standards and practices? WHATEVER.
I swear, I'm beginning to believe that MTV is run by a bunch of fifteen year olds. You know the type too: the ones you see lurking in the shopping malls, girls with their glitter makeup, guys with their backwards ball caps and baggy pants; all of them armed with their parent's credit cards ready to use their "disposable income" on some truly "disposable" crap.
I can hear some of you saying "if you don't like it, don't watch it." Well, friends and neighbors, you're absolutely right. I used to watch MTV every once in a while, but now I've decided to give up on it. I refuse to watch a station that has lost touch with what made it what it was in the first place. I refuse to watch a network that continues to pander meaningless music to the masses. I refuse to watch a station whose walk and talk do not match up.
All right, that's it. I'll step down from my soapbox now.
Name: alias Name: MTVfurious Name: alias Name: Erin Comments: Name: Spider Monkey Name: WhimElder Name: Grant Name: The Slampoet Comments: Name: The Shape Name: Tom Selvey Name: Jenn Name: Dave Name: The Slampoet
Name: Zac
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I completely agree. Mtv has lost it. Beyond there confined comercialism, they've seem to have lost the innovation and desire to take the risk. What ever happened to liquid televisio, or spy groove. These are the shows I want to see breaking up 8 hours of TRL. I'm sick of the glitter and boy bands, GIVE ME DIFFERENT AGAIN. But then who am I? I only watch the station (or did), I don't run it.
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MTV=Death by ignorance
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I always thought that the “M” in MTV was for music, but now I have good reason to believe that the “M” is for money. MTV hardly shows music videos anymore. In fact, they even need a special show called TRL to work in a time to show music videos. Rarely, do you even get to see the whole video because MTV wants to show you more of Carson Daly and the rest of the little tiny-boppers that are hanging outside in Times Square, so they can see some guest on a show that doesn’t even write their own songs or sings them for that matter.
MTV is now flooded with shows like Undressed which is a sitcom about people and their relationships. What does that show have to do with music? The only music on the show is the background music that you try to stomach as you sit through another high school make out scene. Then there is the show called The Real World. Yeah, I wish my real world is living in a huge house in Hawaii with the ocean in my backyard. Still shows like these bombard the MTV airways along with Britney Spears and N’sync music Videos on TRL.
MTV even has another station called M2. M2 is a branch of MTV that plays music videos. So, now I have to buy another station just to watch videos other than an hour time slot that MTV allows its videos?
MTV is not about the music but the money and nobody is easier to get money from than impressionable teenagers that idolize what MTV tells them. Well maybe I will just have to change the channel and see what VH-1 is doing.
Year: sophomore
Major: Media Studies
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Growing up as a kid, MTV was a television station that used music as its primary format. It seems whenever the television is turned on MTV today, it seems to be a rarity to ever get to see a music video. This change of format now includes mostly shows such as Real World, Road Rules, Andy Dick, or Undressed which have nothing to do with music at all.
Another problem with MTV is that rap videos and shows get a more frequent airplay than rock videos do. This is something that is extremely assinine since cable channel BET has a format that includes almost exclusively rap and r&b airplay.
MTV has become so commercially successful that it is disgusting. Any original respectable musician with artistic integrity is not given the time of day anymore. Now MTV force feeds us this boy band/girl band crap which is appeals to a mass audience of 12-15 year old girls. So what does MTV currently offer me...the 20 year-old college sophomore? If it were up to me I would put shows like Headbangers Ball and 120 minutes back on the air at reasonable viewing hours. Then I would designate time for a few rap and r&b segment. Last but not least, Britney Spears and the rest of the annoying boy/girl bands would be syndicated to the Disney Channel where they belong.
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The fact that I listen to music that is not at all commercialized (or Id like to think in my own little indie world)..makes me puke when I accidentally turn on MTV. I'll admit I find it intriguing to watch kids on the real world/road rules exposing all their deepest feelings on national tv...but..the music....puke...maybe the pointless tv shows are better. I know I would rather watch Jackass then have to see another teenypopper fake who can't even write music..or even their juvenile lyrics themselves. Do you call that music? What happened to actual talent...how do you call someone a musician..if they can't even play a guitar..or much less sing (britney spears). Pretty much MTV is useless..it exploits young minds and contaminates our society. Go outside..be creative...
MTV: It's a sign that the end is near
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When I kick back and relax to watch the Bamboo TV set I have in my tree, I can't help but laugh when I see you humans worshipping people from the ghetto on MTV. I mean do you shaved apes actually believe that you get gold rings, gold teeth, hot females, sports horse and wagons, and the lot in the ghetto? If President Aperham Lincohn was alive today he would crap on the rugs of your dormitory. If you want slums, come on down to my tree. Its got termites for the Christ's sake! Rain damage, bad fruit, flies, and even the occasional anaconda sneaking up behind me. Ghetto live on MTV....what a crock of baboon crap.
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I know I must be old..I remeber when the M in Mtv used to stand for Music (you know like music videos..and the other stuff they don't show anymore) Now it just stands for MUSH
Year: Senior
Major: English
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MTV? You mean that station that's up there that I haven't watched in three years? What's the problem again? Ever since Pauly Shore became a VJ.... I kinda forgot about it.
Does anybody miss Liquid Television like I do? Aeon Flux... all that good stuff... (it was where Beavis and Butthead was first aired)
Anyways, I'll be flipping on VH1 for my music needs from now on... They're much better, and it's actually MUSIC television. Yeah, I don't care if they supposedly get a bad rep for catering to an "older generation" ... some of the best stuff came out in the 80's!! (and 90's for that matter) And I got to see something cool like Stone Temple Pilots VH1 Storytellers.
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Yeah, it's awesome, right up there with Barbara Streisand's Prequel to the First of the Last Farewell to Previous Farewell Concerts. And today Goldie Hawn turns 156.
Real world/road rules challenge is awesome, so there!
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Indeed MTV has become the biggest disappointment of our generation. I have no idea what walking into a haunted prison or a bunch of less than civilized "big booty" girls shaking their rumps at the camera have to do with music but then again, maybe I am getting old.
Year: Senior - So I Know All !!
Major: Media Studies
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MTV is in bed with every record lable I'm sure of it. As a soon to be graduate who actually wants to work in Top 40 radio, (mainly because I can't stand the music so what do I have to loose, and I like the way Top 40 runs) MTV will only plug songs that they think they can promote to #1 potential. Even if it doesn't make it, if it has a chance it will get played in full. Otherwise, like with TRL, it gets cut off short so we have to look at Carson Daily's f*^king, c@ck in mouth, ass pony face before something like a rock song gets played !! It's only what is popular. Plus, if you want to hear music, you'll subscibe to M2 and put more money into their pockets. Solution? Knock off Viacom!!! Nooch!
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Wasn't there supposed to be an all rock weekend or something recently? And every time I went to MTV that weekend it was some show that wasn't rock related at all.
Year: Junior
Major: Media Studies
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Great article and good points. MTV is completely commercial now. Unless you have time to watch tv from 8am to 1pm, you won't see many videos outside of TRL. And TRL never shows the whole friggin' video. MTV is all about whatever the suburbanite brats are buying.
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MTV sucks so bad. I turned it on a few minutes before the Madonna video to make sure I didn't miss anything. That Undressed show was on...God help us all...