MTV

Launched in 1981, at a time when the record industry was foundering, MTV (music television) injected new life into the popular music scene by hooking young people on its high-energy diet of music videos (short films set to the music of popular songs). The cable network’s influence reached beyond music however. MTV’s rise sparked the continued spread of cable television generally and the quick-cutting, symbol-laden and visually driven style of video-making had an impact on directors in both television and the movies. A number of music-video directors went on to successful careers in other formats, while several prominent filmmakers took their turns as video directors.