The groundbreaking 'Video Killed the Radio Star' and the Birth of MTV

Music television as we know it today has its beginnings on a historic night in 1981, when MTV first hit the airwaves. The very first video to be played on this revolutionary channel was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles, a song that has since become iconic in its own right. Let’s dive into the history and impact of this very first video on MTV.

Historical Context and the Video's Significance

On August 1, 1981, at 12:01 am, MTV was officially launched and instantly changed the landscape of music and television. The immediate effect was profound: the integration of visuals with music was no longer just a novelty but a fundamental aspect of how audiences consumed music. Prior to this, the music industry was dominated by radio and album covers, but this new medium allowed artists to venture beyond these traditional formats, introducing a new era of music videos.

Artists who previously struggled with visual appeal or aesthetics now had a platform to showcase their creativity and reach new audiences. This shift meant that the success of a song was no longer solely based on its radio performance but also on its ability to capture the viewer’s imagination through video. Consequently, disco acts and other visually unimpressive groups began to fall by the wayside, as their marketability and appeal were now significantly diminished.

Buggles and the Quirky ‘Camp’ Video

The Buggles, a British “New Wave” act formed in the late 1970s by producers Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, had a unique vision. Their song "Video Killed the Radio Star" was quirky and amateurish by today’s standards, but in 1981, it was groundbreaking and very different. Released in late 1979, the song became an international hit due to the innovative concept of music videos. The impact of the video was so significant that it can be argued that it ushered in the MTV era or, as the narrator puts it, “When MTV ruled the airwaves.”

It’s worth noting that Horn and Downes were not just independent artists but professionals in the music industry. They would later join the progressive rock band Yes in 1980, following the departure of Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman. This collaboration, while controversial to some, brought in experienced musicians who were schooled in professional music. Soon after, Downes would form the supergroup Asia with Steve Howe of Yes and Carl Palmer of E.L.P.

The First Ten Videos and the MTV Legacy

During the early days of MTV, the focus was on showcasing a variety of artists and styles. On that fateful night, The Buggles’ video was not even the first to be premiered; however, it was the first to be aired on MTV. Other notable videos from the first 10 broadcasts included:

These music videos were perhaps the early building blocks of the music career for many artists, illustrating the shift from traditional formats to the new and exciting world of music videos. This early era of MTV marked the beginning of an era that would eventually transform the music industry and the way we consume music.