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It was all about the diva singer, and not at all about the band as an entity. Talented MUSICIANS who could play instruments were relegated to session players, or back up for a particular concert tour.

I agree that a lot of that happened, but I believe MTV still did a lot to showcase "the band" as well.

Duran Duran, Posion, Men at Work, Guns N Roses, U2, Prince and the Revolution, REM, Bon Jovi, Talking Heads, Dire Straits were just a few bands who's careers where strengthened by exposure on MTV. Man, that was a fun time!

MTV died because it wanted to get into the reality tv business and out of the music business.

MTV died because it wanted to get into the reality tv business and out of the music business.

MTV got into the business of creating reality--or at least a perception thereof. When it first came on I recall grainy videos of fisheye views of noses and microphones and asked my girlfriend what was the point of watching that? Some of the later videos have merit, granted, but initially I think it was the novelty.

It didn't take long (imho) for VeeJays to get self-important on the tube, and that was enough for me. Then rap, then reality shows about the cultural destruction...and ever the hard leftist slant on everything.

Remind the children and grandchildren "How many people are making a living doing this? You're seeing them. Study your schoolwork!"

But it has been a potent force in the culture war--for the other side--and the less music, the more 'programming'.