How MTV Changed Music and Television Through Influencing Popular Culture

MTV first Airs

Aug 1, 1981

Birth of an MTV Nation,
The first video played on MTV: "Video Killed the Radio Star" ,

Michael Jackson's "Thriller" debuts

Dec 2, 1983

How Thriller changed music videos,
"Thriller" videoMTV's first exclusive video

Madonna sings "Like a Virgin" at the frist MTV Video Music Awards

Sep 14, 1984

Madonna performing

120 Minutes Airs

Jan 1, 1986

PJ Harvey Performs

MTV First Airs "Spring Break" programming

Mar 21, 1986

Beastie Boys at 1986 MTV Spring Break

Headbangers Ball first airs

Sep 18, 1987

Best of Headbangers Ball

Yo! MTV Raps Airs

Aug 1, 1988

First Episode

MTV's First "Choose or Lose" campaign

Feb 2, 1992

Rock the Vote video

First Season of The Real World

Sep 1, 1992

New York Times review of the show,
Real World Season 1 Intro

"Beavis and Butthead" Airs

Mar 8, 1993

"Cow Tipping"

MTV Airs Road Rules

Jul 19, 1994

Road Rules Season 1

MTV Airs "True Life"

Mar 31, 1998

MTV True Life: Fatal Dose

MTV's Jackass Debuts

Oct 1, 2000

Jackass Season 1

MTV Cribs Airs

Oct 5, 2000

MTV "Made" Airs

Apr 22, 2002

MTV Airs "Laguna Beach"

Sep 28, 2004

Laguna Beach Season 1 Episode 1

MTV Airs "The Jersey Shore"

Dec 3, 2009

Jersey Shore Promo

MTV Airs the documentary "16 & Pregnant"

Jun 11, 2011

"16 & Pregnant" Trailer

MTV Airs "Catfish"

Nov 12, 2012

"Catfish" Trailer

MTV Airs "Eye Candy"

Jan 12, 2015

"Eye Candy" Trailer