Ask a Network Head, Essay Example

The most relevant link is the “Ask a Network Head” or “Why Doesn’t MTV Play Music Videos Anymore?” In this video a young girl (Natalie) as the head of MTV why they don’t play music videos anymore and the response is candid and brutal. The network head says that the reason MTV plays reality tv shows with vapid people in them is because people (typically born in the 80’s) have pirated music and music videos to such a degree that there’s no sponsorship behind the videos and without that there’s no money to be had in the programming: “That gaudy blatant product shot was the only reason that video got funding in the first place” says the network head. He means that sponsorship is needed and necessary in order to get videos produced and those just aren’t available on a grand scale anymore, at least, not like they used to be. What this says about the state of digital media is that it’s prolific and anything you want for free is available to you. Popular culture dictates trends of television shows. If that whole generation of people hadn’t stolen music, or if Napster hadn’t been invented, then the relevancy and the solvency of music videos would not only be relevant but would turn a profit. The network is simply trying to make sure it stays in proper functioning and fiscal order and in order to do that they must produce what sells. What sells is what gets sponsorship and like the network head said, the reason vapid reality shows are selling is because the people who’re watching them get to feel superior to the characters and that makes them feel good about themselves.