Spring Break
MTV brings back the music?
Lauren Collins
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: Opinion
MTV was once the perfect place for music television.
Now, though, the music has rapidly been replaced with reality television shows urging viewers to forget the music and tune in to the trashy show of the day. Maybe Music Television would be better termed "Morality Totally Vanished." There was a time, too, when VH1 played pop-up videos, tuning the viewers into the unusual information involved in the video's production, the singers involved, back up dancers or just random information associated with the time. VH1 has also begun to incorporate a ridiculous line of reality television, giving the viewers at home a limited selection of music to enjoy.
MTV 2 came onto the scene in hopes of giving hours of music videos back to viewers, but even this has fallen short of its original intentions. When "MTV Raps," "Headbanger's Ball" and "Total Request Live's" video countdowns were replaced with "Insomniacs," music could be found playing in the wee hours of the morning. Instead of being able to enjoy music at a normal hour, viewers would either have to be up indulging in the insanity of insomnia or go to bed early just to wake up at the crack of dawn.
Now, the MTV geniuses have decided that we can simply access the videos we want to see at MTV.com or YouTube.com, filling our regular daytime viewing with reality television. Ironically, all of these "reality" shows are redundant displays about someone famous looking for love, money hungry competition or just plain crap.
"Unplugged" is back and the network is starting AMTV, playing music from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday through Thursday. Who wants to watch music from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.?
I can understand maybe setting the television alarm clock for 8 or 9 a.m. and waking up to some random music video, but earlier than that, I just don't see the sense in airing these extremely early (or late, depending on how you describe it) shows. I certainly don't see it as an opportunity to boost ratings.
From available blogs online, it seems that many people agree that the music videos aren't always a line up of their favorite music, but it offers the chance to be introduced to new songs. When you watch the videos and wait for your favorite song to come on, you get the chance to see videos and hear music you may not necessarily have sought after initially. You then get the chance to download new music to your iPod or MP3 player and join a new wave of tunes.
Maybe a third MTV will be created with actual intentions of supplying 24/7 music, with back-to-back videos; until then, viewers must be satisfied with this 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. nonsense.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Now, though, the music has rapidly been replaced with reality television shows urging viewers to forget the music and tune in to the trashy show of the day. Maybe Music Television would be better termed "Morality Totally Vanished." There was a time, too, when VH1 played pop-up videos, tuning the viewers into the unusual information involved in the video's production, the singers involved, back up dancers or just random information associated with the time. VH1 has also begun to incorporate a ridiculous line of reality television, giving the viewers at home a limited selection of music to enjoy.
MTV 2 came onto the scene in hopes of giving hours of music videos back to viewers, but even this has fallen short of its original intentions. When "MTV Raps," "Headbanger's Ball" and "Total Request Live's" video countdowns were replaced with "Insomniacs," music could be found playing in the wee hours of the morning. Instead of being able to enjoy music at a normal hour, viewers would either have to be up indulging in the insanity of insomnia or go to bed early just to wake up at the crack of dawn.
Now, the MTV geniuses have decided that we can simply access the videos we want to see at MTV.com or YouTube.com, filling our regular daytime viewing with reality television. Ironically, all of these "reality" shows are redundant displays about someone famous looking for love, money hungry competition or just plain crap.
"Unplugged" is back and the network is starting AMTV, playing music from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday through Thursday. Who wants to watch music from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m.?
I can understand maybe setting the television alarm clock for 8 or 9 a.m. and waking up to some random music video, but earlier than that, I just don't see the sense in airing these extremely early (or late, depending on how you describe it) shows. I certainly don't see it as an opportunity to boost ratings.
From available blogs online, it seems that many people agree that the music videos aren't always a line up of their favorite music, but it offers the chance to be introduced to new songs. When you watch the videos and wait for your favorite song to come on, you get the chance to see videos and hear music you may not necessarily have sought after initially. You then get the chance to download new music to your iPod or MP3 player and join a new wave of tunes.
Maybe a third MTV will be created with actual intentions of supplying 24/7 music, with back-to-back videos; until then, viewers must be satisfied with this 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. nonsense.
This writer can be contacted at opinion@theeastcarolinian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Ryan
posted 4/22/09 @ 11:59 PM EST
MTVU anyone? Another opinion article, another epic failure
wow....
posted 4/23/09 @ 1:40 AM EST
im sorry but this article is obnoxious. i cant count how many times i've heard someone say, "remember the days when mtv ACTUALLY played music videos?" its old news, and obviously the network heard the outrage and fixed the problem by creating MTVU like 2 years ago, so next time please do your research!
Tiff
posted 4/23/09 @ 12:27 PM EST
Yeah, MTVU is great, if you just happen to live on campus or your parents pay for you to have anything other than basic cable. Last time I checked, most students can only afford what they get for free with apartment complexes or just the basic channels. (Continued…)
Ryan
posted 4/24/09 @ 1:21 AM EST
Tiff, so you think it's a privilege to leave on-campus? I rather live off campus and not have MTVU but that doesn't change the fact that MTVU plays music videos at times peopel are awake yet the writer didn't say one word about it. (Continued…)
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