The End of an Era: MTV Is Officially Going Off Air
It’s the end of an era, MTV is officially going off air after nearly 40 years.
I still remember waking up to music videos playing while I ate breakfast, then rushing home after school to watch TRL. MTV was where an entire generation discovered what kind of music they loved—and who they were because of it.
MTV was the hub for music.
Back before YouTube, MTV was where you watched music videos and kept up with pop culture. It was iconic, but now, it feels more nostalgic than relevant. The ease of access to entertainment news and music has made it hard to compete. Now, the iconic channel is pulling the plug.
The move marks a huge shift in viewing habits.
People stream their music on YouTube, TikTok, and Spotify now, not TV. MTV’s parent company, Paramount, hasn’t said much, but insiders point to massive cost-cutting and declining ratings.
It’s hard not to feel nostalgic.
Hosts like Carson Daly and La La Anthony got their start there, and even MTV Europe once reached more than 100 million viewers, which is the first target for closures. MTV UK will suffer from the cut, channels airing in Europe and Ireland will have to say goodbye to: MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live. All of these channels will stop airing on December 31, 2025.
Simone Angel told BBC News the closures “break my heart.” She called MTV “the place where everything came together.” And she’s right, it was where entire generations discovered new artists, styles, and cultures.
Now, MTV’s legacy continues mostly through streaming and nostalgia. But for anyone who grew up watching TRL, MTV Unplugged, and Pimp my Ride , this change feels like saying goodbye to an old friend.
What’s the first music video you remember seeing on MTV?
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