Did MTV Play More Heavy Metal Music Because of Van Halen?

We all know that Van Halen’s 1984 hit “Jump” was one of the most popular videos on MTV. But did you know that the band’s success may have led to more airtime for heavy metal music on the network?

Introduction

It’s often said that MTV changed the face of music when it launched in 1981. The network quickly became a cultural phenomenon, helping to popularize music videos and launch the careers of many artists. But did MTV also have an impact on the type of music that was being made?

In particular, did the network’s decision to play Van Halen’s “Running with the Devil” in its very first hour help pave the way for heavier styles of music to become more popular?

It’s certainly possible. Van Halen was one of the biggest bands in the world at the time, and their inclusion on MTV helped legitimize heavy metal as a viable commercial genre. This, in turn, may have encouraged other bands to pursue heavier sounds, leading to a shift in the overall sound of popular music.

Of course, there are other factors that could have contributed to this change. The rise of punk rock in the late 1970s may have also pushed bands towards heavier sounds, as they looked to distance themselves from the more polished pop music of the time. And heavy metal had been around for years before MTV came along; it’s possible that the genre would have continued to grow in popularity even without MTV’s help.

Still, it’s hard to deny that MTV had a huge impact on music in the 1980s. And whether or not you think it was responsible for making heavy metal more popular, there’s no question that Van Halen’s “Running with the Devil” was an important part of MTV’s history.

A brief history of MTV

MTV first launched on August 1, 1981. The very first video they played was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles. In the early days, MTV played a mix of music videos from a variety of genres, but they quickly began to focus more on pop and rock.

By the mid-1980s, heavy metal was one of the most popular genres in the world, and MTV was starting to reflect that with more metal-centric programming. This came to a head in 1986 when Van Halen released their album 5150. The album’s lead single, “Why Can’t This Be Love,” quickly became one of MTV’s most-played videos.

In the years that followed, MTV continued to play a mix of music from different genres, but they always seemed to have a soft spot for heavy metal. So did 5150 help make MTV more metal-friendly? It’s hard to say for sure, but it certainly didn’t hurt!

The birth of Van Halen

The birth of Van Halen is usually cited as the beginning of the end for disco and the solidifying moment for hard rock and heavy metal’s commercial viability in America. A lot of the credit—or blame, depending on your perspective—goes to MTV, which began broadcasting in August 1981. At the time, few could have predicted how important Van Halen would become to both the network and rock music as a whole.

The rise of Van Halen

In the early days of MTV, music videos were played in between show segments, and the channel quickly became a powerful force in the music industry. The young network helped to promote and popularize a number of musicians and bands, including Van Halen.

The California-based band was one of the first heavy metal groups to achieve mainstream success, thanks in part to their highly-energetic live performances and their popular music videos. MTV played a key role in exposing Van Halen to a wider audience, and the band’s popularity helped to fuel the rise of heavy metal music in the 1980s.

While Van Halen was not the only heavy metal band to find success in the 1980s, they were undoubtedly one of the most influential. Their success helped to pave the way for other metal bands, and their impact is still felt today.

The fall of Van Halen

It’s no secret that Van Halen was one of the most popular hard rock bands of the 1980s. But did their success help lead to the rise of heavy metal music on MTV?

In the early 1980s, MTV was still a fledgling network. They were looking for ways to attract more viewers and break out of the confines of purely pop music. So when Van Halen released their hit album “1984” in early 1984, MTV saw an opportunity.

They began airing Van Halen’s videos in rotation, alongside other hard rock and heavy metal videos. This helped to legitimize heavy metal in the eyes of MTV’s viewers. It also exposed a whole new audience to the genre.

Van Halen’s popularity helped pave the way for other metal bands to find success on MTV, including Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, and Mötley Crüe. In the years that followed, heavy metal became one of MTV’s most popular genres.

The legacy of Van Halen

As one of the most influential rock bands of all time, Van Halen has left a lasting mark on music. One of the ways they did this was by helping to popularize heavy metal music.

MTV began airing in 1981, and immediately started playing music videos by mainstream artists like Michael Jackson and Duran Duran. However, they also played videos by lesser-known acts like Devo and the B-52s. In 1982, MTV began to play more heavy metal videos after receiving positive feedback from viewers. This included videos by Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, and Metallica.

MTV’s increased exposure of heavy metal music helped to make it more popular with young people. It also helped to launch the careers of many metal bands. So, while MTV may not have played more heavy metal because of Van Halen specifically, they did help to increase the popularity of the genre thanks to bands like Van Halen.