The Best Idea Yet

📺 MTV: How Video Killed the Radio Star | 23


Listen Later

In 1981, a scrappy ex-radio executive named John Lack had a wild vision: “What if there was a 24-hour television channel devoted entirely to music videos?” Back then, music videos weren’t really a thing, just a goofy way for record labels to promote new albums (Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody? Basically a hype video). But Lack saw them as the perfect opportunity to capture a completely untapped demographic…Teens. Record labels laughed him out of the room (""We ain't giving you our f*cking music"") and corporate suits questioned every angle. But against the odds, Lack changed the game with six words: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll.” Find out how MTV revolutionized not only how we consume music, but how we experience culture itself… why David Bowie put the channel on blast, and how “seven strangers” helped launch a $2B reality-show industry. Here’s why MTV is the best idea yet. 

Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter

Follow The Best Idea Yet on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting www.wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Best Idea YetBy Wondery

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

516 ratings


More shows like The Best Idea Yet

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,903 Listeners

Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Should Know

78,391 Listeners

Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,826 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

31,967 Listeners

This Is Actually Happening by Wondery

This Is Actually Happening

10,428 Listeners

How I Built This with Guy Raz by Guy Raz | Wondery

How I Built This with Guy Raz

30,170 Listeners

Terms by Airship | Wondery

Terms

774 Listeners

I Hate My Boss by Wondery

I Hate My Boss

467 Listeners

American History Tellers by Wondery

American History Tellers

19,249 Listeners

Business Wars by Wondery

Business Wars

12,906 Listeners

Felonious Florida by Felonious Florida

Felonious Florida

4,156 Listeners

The Best One Yet by Nick & Jack Studios

The Best One Yet

9,642 Listeners

American Scandal by Wondery

American Scandal

19,060 Listeners

Legal Wars by Wondery

Legal Wars

2,151 Listeners

Sports Wars by Wondery

Sports Wars

3,046 Listeners

The Shrink Next Door by Wondery | Bloomberg

The Shrink Next Door

22,954 Listeners

HISTORY This Week by The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios

HISTORY This Week

4,186 Listeners

Even the Rich by Wondery

Even the Rich

11,076 Listeners

The Daily Smile by Wondery

The Daily Smile

904 Listeners

Business Movers by Wondery

Business Movers

1,470 Listeners

Against The Odds by Wondery

Against The Odds

7,776 Listeners

Secret Sauce by Wondery

Secret Sauce

256 Listeners

British Scandal by Wondery

British Scandal

2,499 Listeners

Uncommon Ground with Van Jones by Amazon Music | Van Jones

Uncommon Ground with Van Jones

251 Listeners

Diss and Tell by Wondery

Diss and Tell

851 Listeners

The Economics of Everyday Things by Freakonomics Network & Zachary Crockett

The Economics of Everyday Things

1,669 Listeners

The Big Flop by Wondery

The Big Flop

1,148 Listeners

Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University by Wondery

Exposed: Cover-Up at Columbia University

1,529 Listeners

Severed Affair: The Gruesome Murder of Shad Thyrion by Law&Crime

Severed Affair: The Gruesome Murder of Shad Thyrion

233 Listeners

Black Swan Murder by Law & Crime

Black Swan Murder

66 Listeners

Lawless Planet by Wondery

Lawless Planet

198 Listeners