#mark goodman

GIFS by MTV

MTV boy.

August 1, 1981

Lecture 17: In this fascinating interview from 1983, singer, songwriter and musician David Bowie very graciously asks MTV veejay (V.J.) Mark Goodman why the uber-popular cable music channel plays so few music videos by African American artists. This was a major issue – and a glaring shortcoming – of MTV in its early years. Later, the cable channel would make a more concerted effort to play more videos of African American performers. Performers such as Prince, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and rising rap stars such as Run-DMC and Public Enemy began to enjoy more airtime on MTV.  But it took years for African Americans to become a more visible presence on the music video network.

Lecture 17: In this fascinating interview from 1983, singer, songwriter and musician David Bowie very graciously asks MTV veejay (V.J.) Mark Goodman why the uber-popular cable music channel plays so few music videos by African American artists. This was a major issue -- and a glaring shortcoming -- of MTV in its early years. Later, the cable channel would make a more concerted effort to play more videos of African American performers. Performers such as Prince, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and rising rap stars such as Run-DMC and Public Enemy began to enjoy more airtime on MTV.  But it took years for African Americans to become a more visible presence on the music video network.