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The Conversation
The Conversation
Farhan Mutaqin, PhD Researcher, University of Edinburgh

The story of MTV: The downfall of music disrupter

The Buggles' song "Video Killed the Radio Star" became the first video clip to be broadcast on MTV. Ilustrasi: Rino/The Conversation, CC BY

When The Buggles’ music video “Video Killed the Radio Star” aired on August 1, 1981, it marked a historic moment for both television and music. The day marked the launch of the Music Television channel (MTV).

MTV rapidly became a trendsetter and remained one for over two decades by offering something revolutionary: a nonstop stream of music videos, visual storytelling, and youth culture.

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