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Very small promotional poster This 1981 print advertisement was the
very first promotional poster for MTV (Music Television), created shortly before the channel's launch on August 1, 1981.
Ad Campaign and Artistry
The ad introduced the iconic tagline, "You'll Never Look At Music The Same Way Again," which was also used by original VJ Mark Goodman during the channel's first broadcast.
Artist: The airbrush illustration was painted by Mick McGinty for the Willardson+White studio. McGinty is also famous for illustrating iconic 90s video games like Street Fighter II.
Design: The creative direction was led by Fred Seibert and Alan Goodman, with art direction from Manhattan Design (the team that also created the MTV logo).
Musicians Featured
The illustration depicts various popular artists of the era trapped in shards of glass bursting from a television screen. Identified musicians include:
Debbie Harry (Blondie): Clearly visible in the top-right shard.
Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones).
Pete Townshend (The Who).
Charlie Daniels.
David Bowie: Mentioned by observers as appearing in the composition.
Historical Context
At the time of this ad, MTV was a revolutionary concept—a 24-hour cable network dedicated to music videos, which were then a relatively new medium. The centerpiece of the ad is a Fender Stratocaster headstock, chosen by McGinty to represent the rock-and-roll heart of the channel's initial programming |
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