From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!jsg
Newsgroups: net.music
Title: Re: A Query on MTV
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.409
Posted: Tue May 10 15:50:44 1983
Received: Tue May 17 07:01:43 1983
References: hpdb.129

I do not currently have cable, but have seen MTV while visiting friends
in the past.  I will agree that the playlist is very limited, but what
would you expect?  Many band (new, old and in between) simply don't put
out vidio's.  Although it's not as barren as it once was.

As for being aimed at the bubblegum croud.  Again what did you expect?
It is just like having a top 40 radio station on TV (although not quite
that bad).  THey do take some chances on new music, whioch is encouraging
if nothing else.  I have heard of, but never actually seen, a weekly
show where they have the audience call in their opinions of bunch of
vidio's.  The bands are mostly obscure local bands from around the country.
THe winning bands vidio receives a regular slot on MTV and the band gets some
kind of limited recording contract.

THe worst vidios, in my opinion (this is in general, folks, not just on MTV),
are those which just show a band on stage playing their particular song.
The vidios which involve some sort of short scene or vidio depiction of
the song are much more pleasing and seem to come across better on the tube.

THe couple of times I've seen MTV it's been more of a background type thing. 
Almost like having the radio on in the background.  The biggest problem with
MTV as you might imagine, is that the sound is pretty bad (Unless you've got
a new TV with the special sound package).  

All in all MTV has a long way to go before they really make a dent in the
cable TV market.

				Jeff Grunewald
				RLG Corp.
			...!(seismo, brl-bmd, mcnc, we13, lime)!rlgvax!jsg