MTV Still Learning That Things Don't Come So Easy On The Internet
from the you-actually-have-to-offer-something-useful dept
MTV has had an awful lot of trouble over the years trying to become the MTV of the internet. It seems that the company rested on its TV laurels for way too long, and then totally misunderstood what the online world wanted, originally insisting that its archive of video would make it a player in the space. More recently, it tried to get into the music download business, but offered a me-too package that wasn't even remotely compelling. Almost no one used it. So, it should come as no surprise that MTV is now killing off its Urge music offering, that was launched together with Microsoft, and instead focusing on a new joint venture with RealNetworks' Rhapsody music service. Of course, once again, it's going to face the same questions as before about what differentiates this from anything else out there, and once again, it seems likely that MTV won't have a very good answer.
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Filed Under: downloads, music
Companies: mtv, realnetworks
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MTV hasn't been relevant for years...
they are dinosaurs
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Re: MTV hasn't been relevant for years...
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Nah...there is videos...
And i remember back in the day when they were all about rock! those were the good mtv days, now it's all $$$$$$$$ and rap. MTv hit rock bottom a long time ago.
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Re: Nah...there is videos...
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So sad, I use to love MTV..
The 80s and 90s was the MTV era.
Who among us can remember "I want my MTV!" rant by so many famous musicians, Billy Idol was my favorite. This was an advertising ploy to get folks to call up the cable operator and ask, demand MTV.
CNN and MTV were the reason I paid for CableTV.
But then there was the news, the MTV cribs, Pimp my ride, The house and the whole host of other "Reality TV" shows.
I lost interest and now my kids don't know MTV, not the MTV I know, Its not your Dad's MTV anymore.
I miss music Television, I would actually call up my cable operator and ask for a channel that played Music Videos.
I want my MTV, back.
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More of the same
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Wow
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Yep, yep!
MTV misunderstands what people want on TV anymore! No reason to think they would do any different on the web.
I mean, I don't care if they play hip-hop, rock - whatever.
But enough of the stupid games shows and sitcoms crap - play music videos..
Dunno, I haven't watched MTV in years... once they really quit playing the music videos, I lost interest. Yeah, I know they do sometimes, but it's no where near what it used to be.
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The good old days
MTV was great to play when you had friends over. I was considered a genius for being able to hook up the cable to the stereo before they had jacks for that.
Then they forgot why they were even around.
A few years back I was happy again. I found FUSE. They played rock and alternative. Then THEY caught a bad case of MTV-itis. I don't watch them anymore either.
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Re: The good old days
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That ship has long sailed...
It is no surprise that their online offering is suffering such a horrible fate. I've been to their site before (I'll have to check it tonight) but I'll bet there are more ads than videos and the layout looks like a 14 year old girl's myspace page.
Back when MTV first started its purpose was to play music that kids wanted to hear. Now MTV (and BET for that matter) has become part of the corporate machine that wants to figure out how to create "cool". Corporations don't realize that word of mouth, internet fame, and other things of that nature cannot be bought, sold, or taught in a class (although some colleges are trying). Just look at Universal's attempt to get mixtape djs arrested and then suddenly start rolling out their own mixtape djs. You can't force people to think you are cool you have to earn it.
You used to be able to take re
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MTV Video Music Awards?
This is an old joke (I first heard it in 2005): How can MTV have a "Video Music Award" show if it doesn't play music videos? Does playing videos at 1:00am really count? And then how long do they play videos until another episode of yet another "reality" show comes on?
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Laugh
Face it. If they wanted to be relevant and appeal to a real market, they'd be partnering with Apple and iTunes.
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Same-o
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They need to do something else
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MTV has websites
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Re: MTV has websites
True but the other day we were setting up our box, deleting all the channels we never use - MTV ended up being a "lets keep just in case...." option
Considering this decision was reached by my kids 14, 16 & 17 who spend most of their time watching Kerrang and other radio/music television channels, I think it says a lot about what their target audience think of them
Face it - they don't play the music 'the kids' want to hear because they don't play music full stop. As others are pointing out, a vast majority of their airtime is given over to crap reality telly. I used to be an MTV kid, but then they used to be MUSIC TV
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Re: MTV has websites
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Extremely Disappointed
Slowly I began to accept it and found faith in the Dell DJ. My DJ and I had a great time together and when MTV launched URGE it was the perfect service for me. Not long after, Dell shafted me and discontinued the DJ and pretty much left the market. (Not gonna buy another Dell product thats for sure) I also resisted getting a iPod because millions alread had them and I hate being like and having the same thing so many others have; not to mention that I didn't wanna be locked into iTunes.
So, when my DJ died I bought a Toshiba Gigabeat (which I love). But now MTV (who never promoted URGE) is hooking up with REAL whom I can't stand.
I still purchase the vast majority of my music on CD to avoid DRM but for those old songs for which I only want the song and not the entire album I prefer a digital track.
I don't trust Real's software so I'm not sure what im gonna do now. I don't even care how Real's software has changed, because I can never escape the bad old days dealing with Real. I just won't risk screwing up my brand new PC with crappy software.
This mess has only made me more apt to give in and switch to Apple, but thats not likely to happen just yet but seems much more likely than ever before.
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I'd be pretty pissed too.
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