Posted on 11/01/2025 10:02:13 AM PDT by Red Badger
Paramount Global has delivered a devastating blow to music fans worldwide, announcing the permanent shutdown of five iconic MTV music channels by December 31, 2025 according to the BBC. For 44 years, MTV has been a cultural juggernaut, shaping youth culture, launching musical careers, and defining how generations consumed music, fashion, and pop culture. The closure of these beloved networks signals the end of an era that captivated audiences who once gathered around television screens, eagerly awaiting the next music video from their favorite artists.
The affected channels—MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live—have long served as cherished hubs for music video culture across Europe and beyond. MTV Music, the flagship destination for music videos, has been a go-to for fans seeking the latest hits. MTV 80s and MTV 90s transported viewers back to the eras of synth-pop, hair metal, grunge, and bubblegum pop, offering nostalgic escapes through retro hits and iconic classics. Club MTV pulsed with dance music and electronic beats, catering to club culture enthusiasts, while MTV Live brought the energy of live performances and concert coverage to living rooms worldwide. These channels, each with its own distinct flavor, kept the spirit of music videos alive in an age increasingly dominated by streaming platforms.
The shutdown will begin in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with plans to phase out the channels in continental Europe and other international markets shortly after. While the main MTV channel will continue to operate, its focus has shifted dramatically in recent years. Once a music video powerhouse, it now leans heavily into reality programming like Catfish and The Challenge, leaving little room for the music content that defined its legacy. The decision reflects Paramount Global’s broader strategy to streamline its television portfolio, which also includes the closure of other networks like NickMusic EMEA, Comedy Central Extra, and Paramount Network.
For fans, the loss is profound. MTV’s music channels were more than just entertainment—they were cultural touchstones. They introduced the world to groundbreaking artists, from Madonna to Nirvana, and provided a visual platform for music that shaped global trends. The 80s and 90s channels, in particular, offered a nostalgic refuge, reminding viewers of a time when music videos were cinematic events. Club MTV and MTV Live kept the energy alive, celebrating dance culture and the raw power of live performances.
As the December 31 deadline approaches, fans are left to mourn the fading of a once-vibrant chapter in music history. The airwaves will grow quieter, and the music, as many fear, has died a little more.
MTV stopped focusing on music videos over 30 years ago. About when I stopped watching in the 1990s, it was reality TV shows and other stuff that you could get on any other channel.
Internet killec the Video Star....😈
Videos are doing just fine.
A-ha’s “Take On Me” has over 2 billion views on YouTube.
Because it stop being about music and video? They went ghetto and now they are gone.
The proof that modern music is dead is in the absolute dominance of older music in public spaces. For instance, if you go to Home Depot, you will hear pop music from the 70s and 80s. I mention this because I was shopping there the other day and was noticing the music. Whoever curates their playlist has great taste.
You sure outlasted me.
The minute rap became the new big thing, I was out.
Most of the college kids I know, prefer to listen to 80s alternative music.
It shut down its music channels decades ago. Nothing but crap reality shows ever since.
And YouTube killed the video channel.
Agreed!
What is this MTV 80s they mention?
I would watch that, but can’t find such a channel.
It makes me wonder what will ever replace it. Will people still be humming along to Motown and A-ha tunes as they're out doing whatever 100 years from now? It's conceivable that it will endure as the common popular music forever.
It’s becoming like Classical Music. The Beatles are the “Beethoven”, the Stones are the “Mozart”, etc.
Who listens to modern symphonies?
And there’s a lot of great music that was made in the 70s and 80s, that went mostly ignored back then, that people are just now discovering. And as they say, if you haven’t heard it before, it’s new to you.
So long
Farewell
Aufwiedersehn
Good-bye
Gooood-byyyyyyye.....
The first song on MTV was “Video Killed The Radio Star” ... now, at last, “Video Killed The Video Star”.
Yep, exactly.
yes I remember that!!! mtv was sued by a bunch of black artists because there weren’t many black videos being shown and so since they were very woke, they caved and it is basically became a rap station you’re right I remember that. Not really my cup of tea.
Yes cable TV has many music channels who needs MTV.
Classic!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.