Music videos helped shape the music scene of the 1980s, with such advancements as MTV, VH1, as well as MV3, and Video One (both hosted by Richard Blade). Music videos of popular music helped spread the influence of the music, especially from the UK to American audiences.
The Origin
Music videos first became a thing through the British BBC program Top of the Pops, which aired weekly from 1964 to 2006, the program featured artists at the top of the weekly British Record Chart; most performances were mimed and were rarely performed live. Whenever an artist was unavailable to perform, a ‘promotional film’ of the song was shown; these ‘promotional films’ were music videos.
The History
By the time MTV became a cable channel in the US in 1981, playing music videos – the first of which being the Buggles’ hit song ‘Video Killed the Radio Star,’ a fitting song – MTV ran into a problem, very few American bands had many music videos, so MTV had to reach across the pond and use the music videos of British bands like those of Duran Duran, Wham!, and the Police, kickstarting the Second British Invasion.
By the mid 80s, many cable channels like HBO had their own music video programs, and many local stations across America aired shows like MV3, recorded in SoCal. These displays of popular music only skyrocketed music sales more, especially among young teens, of the music sales, many were in the genres of pop and rock, but most importantly in New Wave. Music video shows also boosted the popularity of music from Australia and New Zealand, such as INXS, Split Enz, Men at Work, Midnight Oil, and the Divinyls.
Boundary Breaking
While also spreading the New Wave/New Pop music to the masses, music video channels also pushed boundaries, leading to the popularity of two of the most famous and best selling artists of musical history: Michael Jackson and Madonna. Despite being a national American treasure popularised by his avant-garde music videos that aired continuously on MTV, MJ was originally barred from premiering the music video for his future #1 single ‘Billie Jean’ on MTV, as it was deemed “too black,” so instead it premiered on the Pasadena-based MV3 that aired on local channels across the US, immediately causing MTV to reverse its mistaken decision. Madonna’s feminine and uniquely controversial music and their equally contentious music videos became a staple on MTV, lauded by the nation’s young population of girls.
Music videos also garnered the success of musical wonders like Prince, and Tina Turner’s revival. Other bands like the Specials, Culture Club, the Thompson twins, and General Public, which included musicians of multiple races were played from the New Wave scene, as well as the ability of femininity in music with acts like the Go-Go’s, Bananarama, Bow Wow Wow, Blondie, the Bangles, Joan Jett, the Pretenders, and more.
Music television programs were an underlying factor of the extreme popularity of music in the 1980s, sadly such programs have either ceased to be, or have strayed from music altogether (MTV). The New Wave scene could never have been as popular as it was without the help of music videos and programs to play them, as music videos shaped the 80s and built New Wave.