The rock revolution of the 1980s (on August 1, 1981) – video music (MTV) – was an innovation that had evolved into an institution 10 years later (in 1991) with some 50 million American subscribers and about 150 million others in 40 countries around the world. The Blade Newswire Services pointed out, "MTV has become the lingua franca (a common language) of youth around the world, sort of a United Nations...and it's the closest thing we have to a nationwide radio station."
'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles was a best-selling single in 1979. By MTV's 2nd birthday, Robert Palmer of the New York Times observed, "From today's (1983) perspective, 'Video Killed the Radio Star' was positively prophetic. Almost overnight, it seems, promotional video clips have become the most effective and highly publicized means of introducing new pop music and new pop artists to the record-buying public." The MTV representative told the press in 1981, "We believe video music is the future of the music business. It's a new art form." It was pointed out 37% of American homes in 1981 were wired for cable, "We'd sure like to be in every one of them." Michael Nesmith of The Monkees remarked, "You've got to put pictures on the music now (in 1983)."
"MTV has turned the record business inside out," it was explained. "It's no longer a hit record that makes a star, but a hit video. Recording artists don't write songs anymore, they make records to be accompanied by videos. Some writers even conceive their songs with videos in mind. MTV not only has affected the way the record industry does business, it has also affected the sound of music." Andrew Ridley of the Salt Lake Tribune made the comment in 1992, "The rise of television (since 1946) ended the golden age of radio. But radio found a way to survive into a newer age. During the period when television was developing, radio was a major source of family entertainment...Although the age of television has made an impact in our society, radio continues to shape our lives with its world-wide accessibility to entertainment and information. The invention of radio has many roots (dating back to the 1800s)."
'Video Killed the Radio Star' was written by Geoff Downes, Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley. Geoff told the press in 1979 he believed the future of rock music, "I think synthetic rock sounds will become much more justifiable. There's really no need for 4 or 5-piece groups. I think there'll be a reduction in live performances because they'll cease to be very interesting to people. When it comes to concerts I think there'll be a return to concerts that are real visual spectacles. Concerts will have to become more entertaining to attract people. I think there'll be increased numbers of people who just stay at home listening, especially with the introduction of video discs."
In 1979, "A lot of the people have said we're (The Buggles) just a gimmick but when people hear the album ('The Age of Plastic') they'll realize we've got some things to say. The album uses the same sound as 'Video (Killed the Radio Star).' That's our distinctive sound but the lyrics cover some diverse subjects. Our lyrics are very important. We're trying to make cynical comments on a number of issues." The Buggles' music, Geoff insisted, "We call it futuristic science fiction music. It's like modern psychedelic music. It's very futuristic...All our songs are less than 5 minutes long and are more influenced by groups like 10CC and ELO."
By 1988, Michael Hochanadel of the Schenectady (in New York) Gazette reported, "Video has indeed vaulted Peter Gabriel from obscurity into the big-time. In fact, this former cult artist may be one of the people video was invented for. 'Sledgehammer' (1986) literally smashed Gabriel into star status by breaking most of the already very conservative rules that seem to govern music - video production. It had kinetic clay-mation, it had a singing fruit salad, it had a quick-change hairdo whose constant mutations lampooned Gabriel's prior role as the theatrical chameleon of Genesis. While most videos are unwatchable the first time, the 8 song-length pieces on Gabriel's 'Compilation Video' (Island Music Video) are so fascinating that they reward viewing after viewing with new revelations. Considered as a collection, this is a stunning retrospective of Gabriel's solo music and may be the best music-video collection since the Talking Heads/Jonathan Demme concert piece 'Stop Making Sense' and the Philip Glass/Godfrey Reggio allegorical masterpiece 'Koyaanisqatsi.'"
It was noted the John Landis directed video, 'Thriller' after its premiere on MTV in 1983 "helped catapult Michael Jackson's album of the same name to the top of the all-time best-seller list in the United States." Of the song 'Video Killed the Radio Star', Trevor had said, "It came from this idea that technology was on the verge of changing everything...It felt like radio was the past and video was the future."
It was noted the John Landis directed video, 'Thriller' after its premiere on MTV in 1983 "helped catapult Michael Jackson's album of the same name to the top of the all-time best-seller list in the United States." Of the song 'Video Killed the Radio Star', Trevor had said, "It came from this idea that technology was on the verge of changing everything...It felt like radio was the past and video was the future."
