??? ???

They were still playing music videos somewhat regularly until about 2003. At least a few hours each day, mostly in the mornings.

Early in '91 was the last time that MTV played music videos nonstop.

Early in '91 was the last time that MTV played music videos nonstop.


Yeah, I've heard this before, and you've confirmed it. I hear a lot that by 1992, music videos on Mtv started decreasing music video airplay by a lot.

They played music videos but then they stopped after the late 90's, then they went into reality programming.

They were still playing music videos somewhat regularly until about 2003. At least a few hours each day, mostly in the mornings.


I was about to say this too. While they began doing "other" non music stuff like Remote Control as far back as 1987, they still at least occasionally did music videos up to the early 2000s. But I'd say they semi regularly played 80s videos in rotation through 1996-97 or so.

They played music videos but then they stopped after the late 90's, then they went into reality programming.


Remember the Real World?

I was about to say this too. While they began doing "other" non music stuff like Remote Control as far back as 1987, they still at least occasionally did music videos up to the early 2000s. But I'd say they semi regularly played 80s videos in rotation through 1996-97 or so.


I'm guessing that from 1981 to 1992, it was playing music videos like crazy! Then they still played music videos a lot until about like '98, but it wasn't as obssessive as from the pre-92 years. Then from '98 to 02/03, there was another decrease but they were at least still playing videos, then by 02/03, it felt like another channel!

I'm guessing that from 1981 to 1992, it was playing music videos like crazy! Then they still played music videos a lot until about like '98, but it wasn't as obssessive as from the pre-92 years. Then from '98 to 02/03, there was another decrease but they were at least still playing videos, then by 02/03, it felt like another channel!


Remember MTV Liquid Television? We were introduced to such greats as Aeon Flux and Beavis and Butthead through it.

Remember MTV Liquid Television? We were introduced to such greats as Aeon Flux and Beavis and Butthead through it.


I didn't have Mtv until 2008, so I don't remember it.  :o

I didn't have Mtv until 2008, so I don't remember it.  :o


Sorry about that.

It's funny how people criticized total request live back when it was around, but in reality TRL was what was keeping MTV alive. They still played music videos on MTV on that program.

Remember the Real World?


Yes I do remember Real World.

Remember MTV Liquid Television? We were introduced to such greats as Aeon Flux and Beavis and Butthead through it.


and Daria.

When MTV had their 30th anniversary 3 years ago, It was a good time to be watching videos.

and Daria.


Daria was on MTV's Liquid Television? I don't remember that.

Daria was on MTV's Liquid Television? I don't remember that.


I'm not sure about that.

Sorry about that.


I wish I got MTV at the latest about 1998!

I wish I got MTV at the latest about 1998!

We got it in 1997? On cable. It was just VH1 with our service before that. MTV played plenty of music videos, but VH1 played more. MTV had other forms of programming not all music related on as well.

I wish MTV went back to playing music videos.

I wish MTV went back to playing music videos.


Me too.

Me too.


Now MTV wants to cater to the young crowds.

Now MTV wants to cater to the young crowds.


It's RTV now until something else comes along.

I was going to say that 1990 was the last year MTV played nothing but music videos, but then I thought of the earliest part to the year. MTV's Remote Control with Colin Quinn and Ken Ober was still a part of the network's line-up. I can remember MTV airing The music video for MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" after Young MC's "Bust A Move" in the summer of '90. To answer your question, the MTV of the 90s was nothing like that of the early to mid 1980s. It came close to mirroring its old self from mid summer of 1990 to June of 1991.

It's RTV now until something else comes along.


R=Ridiculousness.

My impression is that MTV played music videos non-stop 1992 and before.

My impression is that MTV played music videos non-stop 1992 and before.


They played music videos for most of the time during the early 90s. I remember watching Dial My MTV,Club MTV,120 Minutes,Street Party,Totally Pauly andYo! MTV Raps at that time. You also had MTV Unplugged,Liquid Television andThe Real World on in those years.

They played music videos for most of the time during the early 90s. I remember watching Dial My MTV,Club MTV,120 Minutes,Street Party,Totally Pauly andYo! MTV Raps at that time. You also had MTV Unplugged,Liquid Television andThe Real World on in those years.


Now we have Teen Mom and Jersey Shore, a few years ago.  ;D

Even in the 80's, it wasn't 100% dedicated to music videos. MTV aired the British sitcom The Young Ones (which had its original run from 1982 to 1984) in 1985.

My impression is that MTV played music videos non-stop 1992 and before.


and after that MTV stopped playing music videos and then started showing silly reality shows.

Now we have Teen Mom and Jersey Shore, a few years ago.  ;D


16 and Pregnant,Teen Mom and Faking It! ::)

I WANT MY OLD MTV…OR AT LEAST A MTV 3 CHANNEL MODELED AFTER THE MTV OF 1981.

I doubt the President of the network is reading this so we'll get more Awkward and Guy Code.

I WANT MY OLD MTV…OR AT LEAST A MTV 3 CHANNEL MODELED AFTER THE MTV OF 1981.

I doubt the President of the network is reading this so we'll get more Awkward and Guy Code.


He won't care!

It's funny how people criticized total request live back when it was around, but in reality TRL was what was keeping MTV alive. They still played music videos on MTV on that program.


Yeah, I think people sometimes hated on it because 1. of all the screaming girls and (for that time) bad pop music, and 2. because they only played partial videos anyway. But that's a good point...while it wasn't what it once was 10-15 years earlier, that was one of the few links to their music roots back then.

I bet if there had been a YouTube in 1999 though, TRL wouldn't have even been necessary. Back then even though we had the basic internet, we still had to get things the old fashioned way.

I think VH1 did the same thing as MTV in the 90's, they played music videos till they went a different path.

I once read a People Magazine or something like that from 2001 celebrating MTV's 20th birthday.  It mentions in there that MTV hardly ever plays videos, so it seems the transition had been complete by that point.  Heck, I remember seeing a Beavis and Butthead skit, which would be from several years earlier, where they complain that MTV just airs a bunch of normal tv shows these days and not music videos. 

That said, there is no reason for MTV to play videos these days, what with easy access to high-speed internet, Youtube, and all.  Their ratings would plummet fairly quickly if they reverted to an all-video format again.

That said, there is no reason for MTV to play videos these days, what with easy access to high-speed internet, Youtube, and all.  Their ratings would plummet fairly quickly if they reverted to an all-video format again.

Now with access to the internet you can watch all the music videos on YouTube all you want. :)

Seems to me 1997 was the first year that is became really starkly noticeable how little music videos were actually playing relative to past years. It was a slow and steady decline since 1991.

Seems to me 1997 was the first year that is became really starkly noticeable how little music videos were actually playing relative to past years. It was a slow and steady decline since 1991.


and when did they start airing reality programming? ???