On Aug 1, 1981, 40 years ago today, MTV began its broadcast. It was only available to a handful of cable subscribers in New Jersey on its first day. By 1983, it would be in most homes in the US and become a phenom of 80s pop culture. While “music videos” were nothing new (many bands had been producing short movies or performances for years) MTV gave the industry a dedicated outlet for them. It was literally “radio on TV”. Music, Video DJs, and the occasional special concert. Thankfully MTV gave a national voice to artists that otherwise would not have been played on mainstream radio, that was its true power. MTV introduced its audience to a plethora of genres. From Rock to New Wave, to Ska, to Metal, to Rap, the second British Wave, to the burgeoning alternative scene. They would also influence the film industry, giving young directors an outlet for short films. For a decade, MTV’s playlist brought the world together. By the early 90s, MTV wanted a cash grab. Complaining that music royalties were killing profits, they began to develop their own shows, eventually dropping music videos entirely. With on-demand music (and videos) today, MTV would never be the juggernaut it was 40 years ago. But those who lived through that decade have good reason to celebrate its early influence.