The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of music as a major form of entertainment. The introduction of MTV (Music Television) in 1981 changed the way people consumed music. Music videos became an essential part of an artist's promotional strategy, and the channel played a significant role in shaping the music industry.
For most of the 20th century, a few centralized gatekeepers controlled the narrative. Television networks, major Hollywood studios, and national newspapers decided what content was produced and distributed. Audiences consumed the same prime-time sitcoms and evening news broadcasts simultaneously. This created a highly centralized, monocultural experience where society shared a unified cultural vocabulary. The Digital Democratization wwwmomxxx
2. The Architectural Shift: From Broadcast to Algorithmic Curation The 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of
This is the paradox of entertainment in the modern age. It has never been easier to be distracted, and never been harder to be truly entertained. For most of the 20th century, a few