MTV: the network for music television? It’s a promise that unless audiences are insomniacs watching television at 4 A.M., the last thing they will find on “Music Television” is actual music. MTV has completely switched gears from a music-only network to a reality show-based network, completely neglecting their roots of music around the clock.

On Aug. 1, 1981, at 12:01 A.M., MTV was launched into every household’s television in America. MTV showed the image of an astronaut landing on the moon, symbolic of this new era in media. MTV broke musical color barriers, opened the world’s ears to new music, and brought the music industry into complete prosper. This may seem surprising to a teen watching today’s MTV.

Now, MTV is still going strong three decades long, however, it no longer resembles the network that changed media and music. The tradition of 24 hours of music has been shrunk year after year. In 2000, MTV had an average of eight hours of music videos, and has continually decreased to today’s mere three hours of music videos. Usually these music videos are played between the hours of 3 A.M and 9 A.M. It is obvious MTV does not care about the amount of music on the network, and that eventually, music will be eradicated completely.

How did MTV fill the void with the removal of music? Reality shows. MTV filled the network with dozens and dozens of reality shows that they think the public will enjoy more. As the viewer’s attention spans grew smaller, more of these reality shows took the air. From dating shows like “Next” and “Parental Control,” to competition shows like “The Real World” and “Road Rules,” MTV has put new shows out every chance possible. MTV pushed their limits and completely went overboard with the irrelevant shows. Pregnancy shows like “16 and Pregnant,” and “Teen Mom” showed the desperation of MTV. 

The public image of MTV went from musical idols to talentless reality stars. “Headbanger’s Ball” host Riki Rachtman and “TRL’s” host Carson Daly all have been taken off the air along with their programs. Instead people like Snooki of “Jersey Shore” and Lauren Conrad of “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” were given the lime light. These talentless acts drew in a strong following, but replaced the shows that defined MTV.

MTV has multiple networks, including a secondary network, MTV2. It is simple to satisfy music lovers by making one a reality show network and the other strictly music. Instead, both networks are the same programming. Even, VH1 decided to create a VH1 Classic channel, while still having the reality show-based VH1.

As the years pass, MTV has become less musically based, and projections show MTV will eventually have no music on their network. Earlier this year, MTV issued a new logo, removing the “Music Television” tagline under the logo. It’s a sad reality that such a prosperous media outlet has neglected their roots, but there is hope for music lovers out there. Just like the MTV movement began, another musical movement may begin in the future, sweeping music lovers off their feet with a rebirth of the revolution of music.