đź“ş MTV: How Video Killed the Radio Star | 23
In 1981, a scrappy ex-radio executive named John Lack had a wild vision: “What if there was a 24-hour television channel devoted entirely to music videos?” Back then, music videos weren’t really a thing, just a goofy way for record labels to promote new albums (Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody? Basically a hype video). But Lack saw them as the perfect opportunity to capture a completely untapped demographic…Teens. Record labels laughed him out of the room (""We ain't giving you our f*cking music"") and corporate suits questioned every angle. But against the odds, Lack changed the game with six words: “Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll.” Find out how MTV revolutionized not only how we consume music, but how we experience culture itself… why David Bowie put the channel on blast, and how “seven strangers” helped launch a $2B reality-show industry. Here’s why MTV is the best idea yet.
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The Best Idea Yet
The untold stories behind the products you’re obsessed with and the bold risk-takers who made them go viral.
How did Birkenstocks go from a German cobbler’s passion project 250 years ago to a starring role in the Barbie movie? Who created that bottle of Sriracha permanently living in your fridge? Did you know the Air Jordans were initially banned by the NBA, or that Super Mario became the best-selling video game character ever thanks to a strategy called “The Infinite Game?” On Wondery’s new weekly podcast The Best Idea Yet, Nick Martell and Jack Crivici-Kramer (hosts of the award-winning daily pop-business podcast, The Best One Yet [TBOY]) have identified the most viral products of all time and reveal their untold origin stories — plus the bold risk-takers who brought them to life. From the Happy Meal to Levi’s 501 jeans, come for the products you’re obsessed with, stay for the business insights that’ll make you the most interesting person at your next brunch.
Follow The Best Idea Yet on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting www.wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/ now.
- No. of episodes: 31
- Latest episode: 2025-05-06
- Business
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