Mtv - A British Invention?

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20210801

20210807 (R4)

Adam Buxton uncovers the influence of British music videos in the early years of MTV, 40 years after the network first launched.

Going live on 1st August 1981, MTV made British new wave artists hugely popular in the USA - for example Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Culture Club and Adam Ant got extraordinary exposure - but it was also a golden age for music video production. Before the formula set in, and videos became extremely expensive, unit-shifting devices, directors were often given free reign to take risks and experiment.

Adam speaks to pioneering music video directors who were breaking new ground in techniques and imagery. Many came from art schools, were part of the underground music scene, or were starting out in the film industry - borrowing kit after work to film gigs.

Gale Sparrow was one of MTV's first hires, and in charge of sourcing music videos for MTV's launch. She turned to small British labels because they had them in ready supply. What she discovered was very different from the few American videos available - which was mostly concert footage of gnarly old rockers.

Will Fowler is curator of artists' moving image at the BFI National Archive, who researched and created the touring exhibition This is Now, Film and Video After Punk, exploring how the early 80s British underground film and video art scene played a surprisingly influential role in MTV music video revolution, and whose research on MTV has also been published by Liverpool University Press/AHRC as part of the Fifty Years of British Music Video 1964-2014: Assessing Innovation, Industry and Impact project.

There was an explosion of artists experimenting in film and video. Some - Sophie Muller, John Maybury, John Scarlett-Davis for example - would go on to have very successful careers as music video directors. Will Fowler explains how the influence of Jean Cocteau and William Burroughs made their way onto MTV.

Photo Credit: Matt Crockett.

Produced by Victoria Ferran and Chris O'Shaughnessy.

A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4

Adam Buxton uncovers the influence of British music videos at the dawn of MTV.

20210904

MTV made British new wave artists hugely popular in the USA - Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Thomas Dolby, Culture Club and Adam Ant got extraordinary exposure - but it was also a golden age for music video production in the UK. Adam Buxton delves into the archive to uncover how in those early years, directors were often given free reign to take risks and experiment.

Adam speaks to music video directors Tim Pope, Steve Barron and John Scarlett Davis who began their careers making promos for post punk and new wave bands. Gale Sparrow was one of MTV's first hires and in charge of sourcing music videos for MTV's launch. In America, they didn't have any music video directors, it was mostly concert footage shot by roadies or clips for international audiences, so she turned to British labels to fill the schedule who understood the power of the image. A year later, when the network was in financial trouble, it was predominantly British rock stars who agreed to star in the now legendary I Want My MTV campaign.

Adam also hears from Emily Caston, Professor of Screen Industries at the University of West London, who leads the Arts & Humanities Research Council project 'Fifty Years of British Music Video 1964-2014: Assessing Innovation, Industry, Influence and Impact.' And Will Fowler, curator of artists' moving image at the BFI National Archive, who researched and created the touring exhibition 'This is Now, Film and Video After Punk' which explores how the early 80s British underground film and video art scene played a suprisingly influential role in the MTV music video revolution.

Photo Credit: Matt Crockett

Adam Buxton celebrates the 40th anniversary of MTV through the British music videos.

Episodes

First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
20210801	20210807 (R4)	Adam Buxton uncovers the influence of British music videos in the early years of MTV, 40 years after the network first launched. Going live on 1st August 1981, MTV made British new wave artists hugely popular in the USA - for example Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Culture Club and Adam Ant got extraordinary exposure - but it was also a golden age for music video production. Before the formula set in, and videos became extremely expensive, unit-shifting devices, directors were often given free reign to take risks and experiment. Adam speaks to pioneering music video directors who were breaking new ground in techniques and imagery. Many came from art schools, were part of the underground music scene, or were starting out in the film industry - borrowing kit after work to film gigs. Gale Sparrow was one of MTV's first hires, and in charge of sourcing music videos for MTV's launch. She turned to small British labels because they had them in ready supply. What she discovered was very different from the few American videos available - which was mostly concert footage of gnarly old rockers. Will Fowler is curator of artists' moving image at the BFI National Archive, who researched and created the touring exhibition This is Now, Film and Video After Punk, exploring how the early 80s British underground film and video art scene played a surprisingly influential role in MTV music video revolution, and whose research on MTV has also been published by Liverpool University Press/AHRC as part of the Fifty Years of British Music Video 1964-2014: Assessing Innovation, Industry and Impact project. There was an explosion of artists experimenting in film and video. Some - Sophie Muller, John Maybury, John Scarlett-Davis for example - would go on to have very successful careers as music video directors. Will Fowler explains how the influence of Jean Cocteau and William Burroughs made their way onto MTV. Photo Credit: Matt Crockett. Produced by Victoria Ferran and Chris O'Shaughnessy. A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4 Adam Buxton uncovers the influence of British music videos at the dawn of MTV.
20210904		MTV made British new wave artists hugely popular in the USA - Duran Duran, A Flock of Seagulls, Thomas Dolby, Culture Club and Adam Ant got extraordinary exposure - but it was also a golden age for music video production in the UK. Adam Buxton delves into the archive to uncover how in those early years, directors were often given free reign to take risks and experiment. Adam speaks to music video directors Tim Pope, Steve Barron and John Scarlett Davis who began their careers making promos for post punk and new wave bands. Gale Sparrow was one of MTV's first hires and in charge of sourcing music videos for MTV's launch. In America, they didn't have any music video directors, it was mostly concert footage shot by roadies or clips for international audiences, so she turned to British labels to fill the schedule who understood the power of the image. A year later, when the network was in financial trouble, it was predominantly British rock stars who agreed to star in the now legendary I Want My MTV campaign. Adam also hears from Emily Caston, Professor of Screen Industries at the University of West London, who leads the Arts & Humanities Research Council project 'Fifty Years of British Music Video 1964-2014: Assessing Innovation, Industry, Influence and Impact.' And Will Fowler, curator of artists' moving image at the BFI National Archive, who researched and created the touring exhibition 'This is Now, Film and Video After Punk' which explores how the early 80s British underground film and video art scene played a suprisingly influential role in the MTV music video revolution. Photo Credit: Matt Crockett Adam Buxton celebrates the 40th anniversary of MTV through the British music videos.