The MTV in the 80's has allowed popular music to reach into more households than ever before. It brought in a new generation of music lovers and fanatics. Not only that MTV has been able to help the music industry to develop and further help music evolve into the various genres that is now present even today.

The MTV has brought some of the most popular songs and bands into the limelight since the 80's. Some of them has become classics that newer generations of music artists have come to imitate. Here are just some of the different music genres that MTV has come to push into the limelight during the 80's that music loving people from around the world has come to know and love.

New Wave

MTV gave New Wave music the push it needed in order for people around the world to break into the mainstream. New Wave was popular then in Europe. It was MTV that brought them into the US and consequently into the world stage. Because of MTV, New Wave artists such as the Eurythmics, Police, The Cure and Duran Duran to shine into the global spotlight.

Heavy Metal

This genre became more popular in the 80's because of MTV. Bands like Van Halen, Poison, Cinderella and Guns and Roses were able to dish out power ballads and hard rocking music that became the staple for many music loving converts in the 80's. The genre became acceptable in the worldwide music scene as more and more people were able to hear and appreciate the artistry that was made through noise so to say. Along with the acceptance of previously considered as radical music, many views were also introduced. At first such views became controversial as many heavy metal bands began to dish out songs with more offensive lyrical content. Along the way, Thrash Metal made its way from the underground scene with the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth.

Hip Hop and Rap

The hip hop and rap genre can trace its roots to the MTV generation of the 80's. It began as a specialty of the black community in the US that was able to go mainstream and into the global consciousness as MTV was able to present it to a wider audience. Danceable and catchy rap hits became the norm during the early days of hip hop and rap with the likes of the Sugarhill Gang. The genre further evolved by embracing the elements of rock with its electric guitars and intense drumbeats. This was introduced into the hip hop scene by such acts as Run DMC and Public Enemy. Further along the way, gangsta rap, which emphasized on controversial issues such as violence, crime and sex were put into the spotlight by groups such as NWA as well as such important gangsta rappers like the late Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.

Punk Rock

With the 80's giving rise to the MTV generation, the punk rock movement also gained some acceptance and went mainstream. Position to the pop music of the 80's gave the movement its battle cry as groups such as The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag and the Ramones some precious airtime to present their different brand of music to the public. With their angry and politically charged music, punk rock gave way to develop a cult following of its own, thanks to MTV.