MTV a well known respected brand that built its image on being "counter culture". Known for pushing the envelope on many topics, it is hailed as being a voice for the tale end of the Baby Boomers, upcoming Generation Xers, and now Generation Y. MTV achieved what many companies would have taken years to do; build a brand image that would give it the power to directly influence its chosen market. MTV, is essentially the King and Queen of the music world. Commanding worldwide media attention, and exclusive access to many of the world's music products.
MTV can make or break you. If you are not in, you are not in at all. America and the world's number one music information source is MTV. Many would die for that kind of influence. Some will even be put on trial by the United States government. But fear not monopoly haters! MTV may have just put the nail in its own coffin.
Being the only major outlet for popular music nationwide and in many cases the world is a large responsibility. Especially when you are trying to keep maintain your influence and expand on your company's brand. In order to maintain and achieve this amount of influence a company will have to diversify its product line. Hence the birth of the MTV television series, movies and related licensed merchandise.
Many of the Y Generation, do not probably remember when MTV actually played videos, nearly twenty-four hours a day. No Real World, No Road Rules, No Beavis or Butthead, No Daria (could you imagine?!)-Just the damn music. And it was good. Of course the station became even better when they "diversified" their play list to include Rap/Hip-Hop, R&B. Things were good, because video killed the radio star. Many times a video could boost an unpopular song and its singer(s) to super stardom. But then MTV decided to "diversify" its programming. Perhaps playing videos all day was just not pulling the viewers in hence, the barrage of current programming. And the inclusion of more people trying to fulfill Andy Warhol's prophecy "In the future every person will have 15 minutes of fame". Now everyday during some show you will have to hear: "I am from West Bubba F**k, NY and I voted for so and so because they rock!- SCREAM!"
Now Video Disc Jockey's or VJ's are becoming STARS! So it seemed logical that MTV would eventually have its own clothing lines and video games based on some of its hottest game shows. MTV expanded to have non-musicians be a part of its scene. But what happened to the music?
Well in my opinion it got lost in some marketing department. Promotions, concerts, exclusive interviews, a little soft money will get even the most untalented annoying personality their own show on MTV. There was time when a music fan/consumer could turn to MTV for something the corporate controlled censored radio would not play. Now, MTV's music rotation is just as heavy as any radio station in the USA.
MTV's story is not an uncommon to most American businesses. This is the story with many American companies, who begin as prodigy's of their industry. Eventually the smart kid has to grow up, and when the prodigy grows up, it often loses site of what it made it so special.
How can the consumer, the MTV fan, bring the music back to MTV? The answer to this question is simple. Bandwidth proposes that the MTV fan take back MTV, by F**king with Total Request Live or TRL. Why start here, well it is where MTV says the FANS have their say, so it is time to do so. We may not get 24 hours of music videos, but at least we do not have to be told who is talented and who is not. (Note: I am also picking TRL because their marketing department has somehow figured out that main viewers of this show are between the ages of 18 to 24, thus allowing those in that age range access to tickets to attend the show ONLY! I think it is disgusting that I am only a quarter of a century old, that is 25, and I am already experiencing age discrimination!)
Now there is a rumor that some group wanted to see if TRL is fixed and they requested some New Kids on the Block song, and it was listed. But being a doubting Thomas, it has been decided that this month BANDWIDTH will try to "F**k" with the TRL line up and vote for a video. Of course this cannot be done with the staff of BANDWIDTH alone, you, the readers, must help.
I thought since it is my plan that I should at least pick a song that I liked. (Many of you readers probably will not like the songs and find totally retarded. But I ask that you just play along with my twisted game.) I picked a song and video from a show that aired on NBC in the late 90s early 80s, called The Guys Next Door.
Many of you probably never even heard of the show. It did not last longer than two seasons I believe and the group only had one album. The show was kind of like the Monkeys, the five actors/singers did comedy skits and situational comedy. Actually you may be familiar with two of the cast members. Eddie Garcia was a dancer with Michael Jackson, and appeared in the Smooth Criminal video, while Patrick Dancy played Laura Winslow's boyfriend on Urkel's Show Family Matters, as well as, appeared several times on Married with Children.
The Guys Next Door song I picked is Magic Night. It is a happy song, something a boy band would sing. You can hear the song and read the lyrics at the Unofficial Guys Next Door Homepage. All month we ask that you either call or vote online for this song as many times as you can. If everyone can vote a minimum of five-time the more of a chance this video will be played on MTV.
BANDWIDTH'S Goal is to get into the Top 10 or at least be a near miss video. To keep track of the progress please bookmark this article and visit here daily to find out what how our little project is working.
To vote for this songs online at TRL go to Play My Song. There you will find a radio button marked OTHER, type in the song Magic Night by The Guys Next Door. Remember to do this at least five times a day (if possible) in order for the songs to even be a near miss on TRL.
And if you are bored at work and want something to do you can also help by calling MTV TOLL FREE to vote for this song at 1-(888)311-4343. So get all of your friends on the BANDwagon!
Further inquiries about this project should be sent directly to JenniferJ@ybfree.com. I await your letters and comments. Do not forget to come back to this site often and check out what is going on with our little twisted project.