I am of the original MTV generation. By that I mean that MTV first began operations about the time I was in grade school. If you grew up around the same time period as I then you probably also have the same Dire Straights phrase engrained in your brain, “I want my MTV!”.
Well that was then. Now almost 3 decades later the media scene has drastically changed. MTV rarely plays music videos anymore. Nowadays all the really cool media can be seen and heard first not on the broadcast media outlets but instead on the internet. Today, online media sharing sites like YouTube have replaced MTV as the medium of choice for aspiring bands and breakout artists.
Forget email and online shopping. To me this is the part of the internet that is really exciting. Watching internet technologies and trends evole is like watching the birth of radio and television broadcasting a century ago. The internet truly is it’s own unique medium.
Take YouTube, for example. Today when I want to watch a certain music video, I need not stare in front of my MTV screen all day waiting for it to play (like they actually play videos anymore anyway!). Instead, I type in what I seek on YouTube’s website, and viola! there it is! I can even create my own personal playlist and listen & watch all my favorites to my heart’s content. Not only that, but chances are that you will also find a lot of “amateur artists” posting videos of their own renditions of your favorites. Some you may like, others you may not, but it does make for an interesting outlet to discover new “talent”. Who knows, you may discover your next favorite performer online!
Lately I’ve been hooked on watching and listening to music videos on YouTube. This is the version of MTV I always wanted. Play what you want when you want it, and get recommendations for and discover new favorite songs & artists in the process!
So I say, away with my MTV. Just give me a fast internet connection and I’ll be a happy man.
I have been helping others with their computer since I was a kid but professionally since 1997. Formerly employed as a network administrator for a company with 1500 employees and 40 offices nationwide, today my focus is helping small businesses and home users make better use of technology. When not exploring the internet or fiddling with my own computer, I also enjoy tennis, hiking, soccer, boating, camping, playing with my dog, and of course, spending time with my family.
