Reverb: The Official UTF Blog

MTV hasn’t been MTV in over 10 years. It has gradually become another “regular programming” network like CBS (its owner) or NBC. I use to be an avid watcher of the cable network – when they actually played videos. Now, it’s become a hot bed for stupid reality tv shows; do we really care about watching ex Real World/Road Rulers battle it out on The Gauntlet? I could care less about watching people who are famous for doing absolutely nothing try and extend their 5 minutes of fame by doing dumb challenges. But, I digress. The point I’m really trying to make is that MTV has lost its way. It’s become corporate and uncool, the total opposite of its roots. They’re more concerned about image and corporate sponsors, especially after the infamous Super Bowl incident. The network that once dared to be different is dead. Oh, I’m not pointing out anything new, but recent evidence definitely nailed the final nail in the coffin for MTV.

An Icon is Banned

One of MTV’s first icons, if not the first, has been banned in the wake of Nipplegate. Of course, you should realize that I’m referring to Janet Jackson. America lost its mind after feeling that a 3 second boob flash traumatized their children to the extent that some even tried to sue the pop icon. Yes, I know I’m speaking on this rather late in the game, but it continuously troubles me how they flaunt Justin Timberlake on MTV while banning Janet. Oh, if you’re lucky, you might catch a Janet video on one of the other MTV channels…maybe. However, you will not see her on the “regular” MTV. Bottom line, MTV banned her because she cost them money…lots and lots of money from the “indecency” fines they had to pay. Yes, she was wrong for doing the flash act, but her co-partner in crime, Justin was just as responsible for the incident. Okay, I can maybe understand why they would ban this video, though; however, she’s having a Glitter moment with this album.

I’m sure we can expect the Emancipation of Janet soon…just without Jermaine Dupri.

NIN’s are the New Dixie Chicks

Apparently, you cannot perform live on the MTV Music Awards with an unaltered picture of George W. Bush as your stage background image. At least, that’s why the Nine Inch Nails performance of “The Hand that Feeds” was scrapped from the MTV Music Awards approximately two years ago. What happened to the “anything can happen, anything goes” philosophy towards the music awards show? Obviously, Janet’s boob baring incident had a trickle down effect because now you can’t sing a song with a picture of the President of the United States. Where is Sinead O’Connor when you need her? It’s unfortunate because “The Hand that Feeds” is a great song.

I’m sure there are more recent cases, but these are the two most obvious in my mind. I’m just bothered by MTV’s “moral compass.” It’s obviously off because it’s okay to show snippets of people having sex or house mates threatening women on The Real World but not okay for NIN to do a performance with an unaltered picture of the President. The Janet issue is a in a different category because their unwillingness to play her videos is about the mean green. Unfortunately and like many other companies, the corporate suits have taken over. It’s all about what will affect the bottom line. Revenue dollars from sponsors are more important than the artists who helped shaped the channel into a cultural icon.