Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
Prince in a bath tub. Cindy Lauper's orange hair. The comic book that guy from A-Ha was trapped in. These are what the songs of the 1980s looked like. But wait, "looked like?" We're talking about music... right? Sure and we can't do that without talking about Music television. MTV. The beacon of neon and spandex that broadcast its signal directly into the mind's eye of a young Gretchen Bostrom. And today she shares how that ground-breaking network broke ground on her signing career.
You can listen to, purchase and support the music of today’s guest GRETCHEN BOSTROM at www.gretchenbostrom.com. You can also follow her on TWITTER @gretchenbostrom and on INSTAGRAM @gbossmusic.
POP NOTES
MTV first launched at 12:01 eastern standard time on on August 1st 1981 with stock footage of the Apollo 11 being launched into outer space.
The first video ever played was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles followed by Pat Bentar’s “You Better Run.”
Shortly after its broadcast debut, record stores reported huge sales spikes for the artisits featured on the channel, notably such British New Wave acts as The Human League and Bow Wow Wow.
In its first year, hosting duties rotated through a core cast of VJs, actress Martha Quinn, music journalist Nina Blackwood, former WBCN deejay J.J. Jackson, tv personality Mark Goodman and Alan Hunter, who had recently appeared in the video precursor of David Bowie’s “Fashion.”
The iconic “I Want My MTV” catchphrase , pitched by campaign developer George Lois, was inspired by a 1950s cereal slogan “I Want My Maypo.” The earliest ad spots featured popular recording artists shouting the phase while interacting with an animated version of the logo.
The network debuted its annual MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS with a live telecast on September 14th 1984. Hosted by Dan Aykroyd (EAST ODF EDEN) and Bette Midler (BIG BUSINESS) it featured performances by Tina Turner (“What’s Love Got To Do With It?”), Huey Lewis And The News (“I Want A New Drug”) David Bowie (“Blue Jean”) Ray Parker Jr. (“Ghostbusters”) Rod Stewart (“Infatuation”) and Madonna (“Like A Virgin”)
Film directors who got their start helming music videos for MTV include Steve Barron (TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES), Spike Jonze (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH), Mary Lambert (PET SEMETARY) Russel Mulcahy (THE SHADOW) and the duo of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE).
In acknowledgement of its teenage fan base, MTV fronted numerous campaigns designed to involve teenagers in politics. Starting in the early 90s with ROCK THE VOTE, the network followed this up with CHOSE OR LOOSE (beginning with Bill Clinton’s first campaign) MTV ACT AND POWER OF 12 (during the 2012 reelection campaign of Barrack Obama) and the Millennial specific ELECT THIS (in conjunction with Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidency campaign).
Since the late 80s, MTV has grown to include an umbrella of other music themed cable channels including The Country Music Channel (launched 1983) VH-1 (launched 1985), MTV2 (launched 1996) and BET JAMS (launched in 2002, formerly MTV JAMS).
Tune back Wednesday when Gretchen finds out if Mannequin 2: On The Movie is back on the shelf at her local VIDEO STORE OF THE 1980S.
This episode of MÉNAGE Á POP was recorded by CAST, an online audio platform that lets you create and record a multi-guest podcast straight from your web-browser. It was then mastered by AUPHONIC, a web-based post-production service. Check out both sights for trial and subscription information.
MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
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Try to understand the present while living in the past with Tim’s weekly podcast 20TH CENTURY POP! at www.nahpods.com/20popcast
For questions, queries or, by random chance, press contact Tim Blevins at subcultist@gmail.com.