August 1, 1981Reputable sourceWell documented
MTV Launches
On the timeline · around August 1, 1981 · The Rock & Pop Era
What happened
At 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981, MTV began broadcasting in the United States — the first channel devoted entirely to music videos — opening, fittingly, with the Buggles' 'Video Killed the Radio Star.'
Why it matters
MTV made the music video essential to pop stardom, fusing image with sound and turning artists into visual icons. It reshaped how music was marketed, consumed, and imagined for a generation.
Sources
- Billboard. Happy Birthday, MTV: The First Music Video You Ever Played · Reputable source