MTV’s Behind the Music

In honor of the 43rd anniversary of MTV, we’re rereleasing a classic episode: the real story of MTV, as told by the founders. Today MTV is a cultural institution, but people forget what a long shot it was to get the channel off the ground. Bob Pittman led the team that created MTV. In this special episode, he reminisces with co-founders and friends John Sykes, Judy McGrath, Fred Seibert, Tom Freston, and Jarl Mohn about what it was like to create the '80s version of a start-up and lead a TV revolution by dreaming up the rules as they went along. From why the first MTV logo was designed on crinkled paper (it spent a little time in a trash bin), to how a tiny record store in Tulsa helped save the business, to why you should really think twice about going on a Lost Weekend with Van Halen... all the way to how a terrible cereal inspired one of the greatest ad slogans of all time: “I want my MTV,” we’ve packed this episode full of stories that marketers, fans and entrepreneurs will all want to hear. 

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This artist became a rapper at the age of 9. Lil Wayne came from a tough childhood before exploring his talent for rapping as a member of the Hot Boys. With growing popularity, he pursued his solo career and released Tha Carter in 2004 and Tha Carter II in 2005. He was ready to take on the mantle of "Best Rapper Alive" and collaborated with artists such as Fall Out Boy and Fat Joe. Lil Wayne found success in 2008 with Tha Carter III, which included hit singles "A Milli" and "Lollipop", earning him 4 Grammys that year. Following Tha Carter III, he released IV and V, along with mixtapes. Even during his prison sentence in 2010, he released the album "I Am Not a Human Being", which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. Lil Wayne has sold over 120 million records worldwide and introduced a new generation of rappers, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga through his record label, Young Money Entertainment. Over his career Lil Wayne won numerous awards — from the Grammys, BET, Billboard, VMAs, and NAACP — cementing his legacy as one of hip-hop’s greatest. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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She is known to be the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.” Mary J. Blige came from a tough childhood before becoming a singing sensation. Blige found an escape from her life through music and eventually dropped out of school before working with Puff Daddy. Her first album, “What’s the 411?”, was a hit, followed by her second album “My Life”, which explored her emotional struggles. By her fourth album, Blige was finally finding herself and learning to forgive. She realized that it’s never too late to pursue her dreams, and years later came out with her seventh album, “The Breakthrough”, earning her 8 Grammy Awards. Blige continues to earn her legacy, performing for Barack Obama and collaborating across genres with artists like The Roots, U2, Drake and more. In 2022, Blige performed in the Super Bowl and was named as one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world. Although she was faced with heartbreak and setbacks, Mary J. Blige continues to define and expand the world of R&B music. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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This artist is known for his use of Auto-Tune and pushing the boundaries of music. As a child, T-Pain knew he wanted to leave his hometown of Tallahassee to pursue his musical talents. He eventually discovered Auto-Tune and created a remix of Akon’s “Locked Up”, dubbed “F***ed Up”, which led to Akon recognizing T-Pain’s potential. T-Pain pursued his music career and came out with his first single, “I’m Sprung” which became a #1 hit. Critics thought that T-Pain’s signature Auto-Tune sound was a gimmick, however they were proved wrong when the single “Buy You a Drank” shot to #1. T-Pain marched to his own tune and what felt good to him, a genre he calls “Hard & B”. Now, he’s a star with four Billboard top 10 singles and his own show “T-Pain’s School of Business”. He even proved his natural singing ability by winning The Masked Singer and performing an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. T-Pain continues to represent his genre defining sound and has shaped the direction of pop music, all while building his legacy. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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He is a radio DJ turned Hip-Hop superstar. Ludacris built his career in music and acting by writing about his life and rapping on Atlanta radio stations, leading him to become a founding member of record label Disturbing tha Peace. Although he was a radio DJ under the name of Chris Lova Lova, Ludacris was ready to build his own name as a recording artist. One of his first singles, “What’s Your Fantasy”, proved that he had a trademark flow. In 2009, six studio albums later, Ludacris was met with idolization as he collaborated with Justin Bieber on the hit single “Baby”, and proved that everything comes down to the music. Now, Ludacris is a businessman, restaurateur, philanthropist, and he finds success as a Fast and Furious star and founder of the Ludacris Foundation. Through hard work tracing back to his first radio show, Ludacris continues to be a trailblazer who wants to be the best man he can be. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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This Rocket Man is known for his flamboyant costumes and musical oeuvre. Elton John began his career as a talented pianist in the London suburbs where he created his debut album, “Empty Sky”, which began the course for Elton’s 7 consecutive #1 albums. The rock ‘n roll legend’s rush of superstardom soared in the 70s with money and fame, however he also struggled with burnout, drug use, and personal crises. While navigating tabloids and scandals in the 80s, Elton reached sobriety and supported his loved ones during the AIDS epidemic. With new music and a newfound outlook in the 90s, Elton was inducted into the Rock’ N Roll Hall of Fame, won an Academy Award, and found love with his husband, David Furnish. Now, Elton continues to build his legacy with musical collaborations and another world tour. Although he’s had a great ride in the last 30 years, Elton knows he’ll keep on rockin’. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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She’s one of the biggest stars in the world and a human highlight reel. The story behind Britney Spears’ early career comes from her aspirations too large for her small town. Britney knew she wanted to perform and see the world after her early roles in off-broadway plays and The Mickey Mouse Club, which led to her solo career in music. Her debut album, “...Baby One More Time” became a #1 hit and a global phenomenon. From the debut of her second album to her fourth, Britney was met with iconic moments such as opening for NSYNC, dancing with a python at the VMAs, and collaborating with Madonna. In the later 2000s, Britney continued to captivate the music world with additional hits like “Womanizer” and “Hold It Against Me”. The pop star currently holds 5 albums at #1 along with many accolades. Since recently being liberated from her conservatorship, fans are excited to see what Britney has in store next. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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The most successful American Idol winner, Carrie Underwood, went from farm girl to superstar. After winning American Idol’s fourth season in 2005, Carrie performed a 47 state tour that introduced fans to #1 hits like “Jesus Take the Wheel” and “Before He Cheats” off her debut album, Some Hearts. Her talent quickly continued to be recognized as she won two Grammys and an induction to the Opry. At 25, she met her future husband, NHL player Mike Fisher, who became the inspiration for her next album, “Play On”. Carrie has since then released six studio albums and earned a total of 7 Grammys, 12 Billboard Music Awards, and 15 million albums sold. With continued success down the line, Carrie Underwood continues to prove her title of being the most critically acclaimed country artist of all time, all while exploring other ventures such as fashion, fitness, and acting. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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One of the highest selling pop girl groups of all time, TLC, has influenced multiple genres of music that will be felt for generations to come. Tionne “T-Boz'' Watkins, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas defined girl power and individuality in the 90s. Their third album “Fan Mail'' was an instant smash that led to awards and headlining tours. However, the three women experienced ups and downs during their success from creative differences to health issues. The group eventually conquered these challenges and came together for one final album. Unfortunately, before they finished recording, Lisa passed away unexpectedly. In 2002, TLC made their first appearance without Lisa at the MTV Music Awards and the next year, performed a final time to 60 thousand fans to honor the life of Lisa Lopes. The duo then took a hiatus until 2017 when they crowdfunded their 5th self-titled album, “TLC.” Despite their bumps in the road, TLC managed to reign as the queens of pop, and their influence continues to set trends and open doors for female groups today. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.

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