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Celebrating the launch of MTV

by Jake Rudh

August 02, 2024

  Play Now [58:49]
MTV debuted on August 1, 1981, and its early station IDs included adapted footage of astronauts on the moon.
MTV debuted on August 1, 1981, and its early station IDs included adapted footage of astronauts on the moon. MTV

August 1, 1981: The very first day of MTV. The Buggles played "Video Killed the Radio Star," and the rest, as they say, is history. That's why this week on the program — which just happens to land on August 1 as well — we're going to be celebrating that anniversary by playing nothing but songs and acts that were featured in the first 24 hours of the network.

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Celebrating the launch of MTV