{"id":110705,"date":"2021-04-27T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-04-27T17:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/?p=110705"},"modified":"2021-04-28T22:12:31","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T03:12:31","slug":"mtv-turns-forty-i-still-want-my-mtv-to-open-at-grammy-museum-mississippi-on-friday-may-14-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelocalvoice.net\/oxford\/mtv-turns-forty-i-still-want-my-mtv-to-open-at-grammy-museum-mississippi-on-friday-may-14-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"MTV Turns Forty: I Still Want My MTV to Open at Grammy Museum\u00ae Mississippi on Friday, May 14, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Special exhibit to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the launch of the iconic brand<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

August 1, 1981, was the day that forever changed music and television. It was the day that, just shortly after midnight, MTV<\/strong> debuted with these words spoken by co-creator John Lack<\/strong>, \u201cLadies and gentlemen, rock and roll,\u201d followed by the broadcast of the very first music video to air on TV, \u201cVideo Killed the Radio Star\u201d<\/strong> by The Buggles<\/strong>. Now, nearly 40 years later, GRAMMY Museum\u00ae<\/sup>Mississippi<\/strong> in Cleveland, Mississppi<\/strong>, is marking this pivotal moment in music history with its forthcoming special exhibit, MTV Turns Forty: I Still Want My MTV<\/em><\/strong>, opening on Friday, May 14, 2021<\/strong>.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first major exhibition to be curated by the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, MTV Turns Forty <\/em>will explore the history of the iconic music brand\u2014from the role of native Mississippian, Bob Pittman<\/strong>, in the concept and execution of an idea that revolutionized the music industry, to why, nearly four decades later, people across the world still scream, \u201cI want my MTV.\u201d MTV Turns Forty <\/em>is sponsored in part by The<\/strong> Maddox Foundation<\/strong>. Exhibit partners include MTV<\/strong> and Hard Rock International<\/strong>. Additional support is provided by corporate sponsors DittyTV<\/strong>, Entergy<\/strong>, and Millsaps College<\/strong> in Mississippi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m pleased and proud that my home state of Mississippi is hosting an exhibition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of MTV,\u201d said Bob Pittman<\/strong>, Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, Inc.<\/strong>, who led the team that created and launched MTV in 1981. \u201cMississippi and MTV are two of the great formative influences in my life, and I\u2019m delighted that they\u2019re coming together for this anniversary celebration.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are so thrilled to be marking this special moment in music history with an exhibit at our Museum,\u201d said Emily Havens<\/strong>, Executive Director for GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. \u201cWhat many may not know is MTV has deep roots here in Mississippi as one of its creators, Bob Pittman, is a native of Jackson. In addition, this exhibit wouldn\u2019t be happening if it weren\u2019t for our late dear friend, and first Chair of the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi Board, Lucy Janoush<\/strong>. Prior to her passing in 2017, Lucy was sketching out her idea for an exhibit that would celebrate 40 years of MTV. We are grateful to Bob Pittman, Tom Pittman<\/strong>, Hard Rock International, and everyone at MTV for helping us bring Lucy\u2019s idea to life.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMargaret and Dan Maddox believed that local museums were a great community asset that provide a unique opportunity to experience history,\u201d said Robin Hurdle<\/strong>, President of The Maddox Foundation. \u201cMaddox Foundation is pleased to continue their legacy with our support of the I Still Want My MTV<\/em> exhibit at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi. MTV was such an innovative concept that revolutionized the music industry, and we\u2019re excited about experiencing MTV\u2019s magic through this interactive exhibit.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MTV Turns Forty: I Still Want My MTV <\/em>will be open to the public on Friday, May 14, 2021, and will run through summer 2022. For the exhibit, the GRAMMY Museum Mississippi captured interviews with and artifacts from the four remaining original MTV VJs: Nina Blackwood<\/strong>, Mark Goodman<\/strong>, Alan Hunter<\/strong>, and Martha Quinn<\/strong>. Original MTV VJ, J.J. Jackson<\/strong>, passed away in 2004.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten items in the exhibit were provided by Hard Rock International. Hard Rock owns the largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia. Spanning nearly 50 years, the brand\u2019s collection has grown to over 86,000 pieces. Guests of Hard Rock Cafes, Casinos, and Hotels<\/strong> share in the stories of music history through this collection of artifacts which continues to expand with new openings. Hard Rock will proudly open a new flagship hotel near the home of MTV in Times Square, New York<\/strong> in March 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artifacts provided on loan from Hard Rock include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n