Mtv's Influence On Rock Music

1.After completing the reading it seems to me that there are two main reasons as to why MTV was so important to how rock music changed during the 1980s. The first reason being the fact that MTV provided a change in “the way that the industry operated.” (Schloss, et al., 250) MTV allowed for artists to promote themselves and their work on television, which allowed them to reach a more widespread audience. In addition, at this time the Baby Boomers were now older, around their thirties, and thus it was easier for them to sit at home watching rock music on television, instead of going to “a loud, smoky, nightclub at midnight.” (Schloss, et al., 250) MTV was now a sort of alternative to listening to music on the radio. However, “MTV was.. the
Rock music influenced the development of hip hop in a couple of ways. One of the ways in which rock music did this was because hip-hop incorporated a breakbeat, “a part where all instruments but the drums drop out,” (Schloss, et al., 290) a technique which was earlier used by rock. As competition between deejays grew, some began to use rock music records in order “to find the most interesting breakbeats.” (Schloss, et al., 290) In addition to this, rock music was a large influence on hip-hop's style, from the attitude to even collaborations with artists, rock music in a way became essential for the rise of hip-hop music. (Schloss, et al., 290) Rap and hip-hop reached a wider audience during the 1980s and became a part of the mainstream is because of two things; hip-hop’s attraction, and it’s breakthrough on MTV. The rebellious attitude of hip-hop along with other aspects, proved to be very attractive to young fans of the rising genre. (Schloss, et al., 291) Lastly, hip-hop’s breakthrough on MTV was a key factor in its expanding audience and the road to becoming mainstream. In 1988 MTV had its “first show dedicated entirely to hip-hop music,” (Schloss, et al., 295-296) which was a hit and caused hip-hop’s audience to expand