MTV is the American cable channel that launched in August 1981 and revolutionized pop music by playing music videos around the clock. Suddenly image mattered as much as sound, and visually striking new wave acts from Britain and America became overnight stars. MTV made household names of Billy Idol, Culture Club and the Go-Go’s, and helped carry new wave into the mainstream. Its arrival is a turning point in the MGM+ docuseries New Wave.
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Mentioned in: From Punk Clubs to Pop Royalty: How New Wave Stars Like Belinda Carlisle and Billy Idol Conquered the ’80s