Why we need MTV now more than ever

https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/01/why-we-need-mtv-now-more-than-ever/

There’s no culturally dominant platform for people who love their genre to sit back and let the captain take the wheel. That’s why Headbangers Ball worked – metalheads are die-hard loyal to the genre. Even if you’re an old gray-hair who likes other music these days, you’ll always have a sweet spot for metal; the style demands that heart and soul, and those who love it, willingly give it over.

Headbangers Ball thrived on understanding that devotion. Your average metalhead might bitch and moan about thrash or black metal when they’re a strict death metalhead. However, they’ll still willingly check out whatever is suggested because the music is within their preferred genre. Because of that loyalty, they have an open mind to check out new stuff and get hip to new bands. The other specialized shows mentioned above did the same for fans of other genres.

I remember bands like Refused, At the Drive-In, and Blur having videos that blew me away. From “The New Noise” to “One Armed Scissor” and “Coffee and TV”, all of these songs randomly came on in the middle of the night in my early twenties and made me question everything about what I looked for out of rock and roll.