Question 1

True or false: In its early days, MTV originally stood for the phrase Music Television Videos.

Accepted Answer

False. MTV stands for Music Television. The acronym never included 'Videos'; it simply meant Music Television.

Question 2

True or false: MTV launched in 1981 with the music video 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles.

Accepted Answer

True. MTV's first broadcast on August 1, 1981, opened with that video, a well-documented fact.

Question 3

True or false: MTV's Video Music Awards debuted in 1984 at New York's Radio City Music Hall.

Accepted Answer

True. The first VMAs took place September 14, 1984, at Radio City Music Hall, hosted by Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler.

Question 4

True or false: MTV's reality show 'The Real World' premiered in 1992 and helped pioneer the reality TV genre.

Accepted Answer

True. The Real World, which began in 1992 on MTV, is widely credited as a pioneer of modern reality TV.

Question 5

True or false: The first music video ever played on MTV was by Madonna.

Accepted Answer

False. Madonna's first MTV video was 'Lucky Star' in 1983. The first video was 'Video Killed the Radio Star' by The Buggles.

Question 6

True or false: MTV's animated series 'Beavis and Butt-Head' first aired on Comedy Central.

Accepted Answer

False. Beavis and Butt-Head originally aired on MTV from 1993 to 1997, later rerunning on Comedy Central.

Question 7

True or false: MTV's 'Total Request Live' was hosted by Kurt Loder for its entire run.

Accepted Answer

False. TRL was hosted by Carson Daly from 1998 to 2003. Kurt Loder was an MTV news correspondent, not the ongoing host.

Question 8

True or false: MTV's iconic logo was designed by the design firm Manhattan Design in 1981.

Accepted Answer

True. Manhattan Design, co-founded by Frank Olinsky, created the graffiti-style logo for MTV shortly before its launch.

MTV Trivia Questions