Music channels

Music television is a program in which music videos are predominantly playing 24/7. They can host their own shows, charts, awards and also prizes. The prime ones are 4Music, VIVA, Scuzz, JBTV, MuchMusic, Kerrang!, VH1, Fuse TV, Palladia Wigan Pier and MTV.

MTV is one of the most leading music channels as it now caters for nearly every genre. With MTV, base, MTV hits, MTV dance, MTV rocks, MTV classic and so on. MTV, originally stands for Music Television, is an American cable television channel based in New York City, New York that launched on Saturday, August 1, 1981. As its main purpose was to play music videos, it now however shows TV programs in its later years as they have established young audiences which can relate to both their music and television. It now shares sister channels which are more directed to the genre of music to make it easier for the audience to listen to what they like rather than everything. There is also a channel just for the TV shows as well. MTV's influence on its audience, including issues related to censorship and social activism, has been a subject of debate for years. As well as having a channel MTV also host annual awards each year, involving some of the most popular artist of the year to celebrating their success.

Kerrang! TV is a station owned by Box Television which also of loosely connected with the kerrang! magazine too. From 2005 its main content was music videos as the majority of which are texted required playlist from the views at home. It was officially launched in the spring of 2001 and owned by Bauer media/ Chanel four television, with its sister channels like 4seven, Channel 4, Film 4, E4, More 4, 4music, heat, kiss, magic, smash hits and many more. It main genre is rock/ alternative and metal, however this does varied in many sub genres, but overall kerrang! Are targeted at one main audience which are young teenagers to old adults, male and female, of new and old music, kerrang tailors for wide rock audience. As well as Kerrang! TV there is also Kerrang! Radio and magazine which publishes to a wider audience as it sells worldwide. Kerrang has come far in many years and now it has reached its ultimate peak. Like many other music channels they too have their own kerrangs award show, where even some non-famous artists are invited to attend, as I did this year. It is held in many different locations all over the UK changing each year, celebrating the best of rock music. The first broadcast from kerrang!TV showed that Nirvanas Smells Like Teen Spirit was the most popular with the views and also the most played.

Kiss TV is mainly a commercial music channel from again Box Television which is avalibe on sky, virgin and Freeview. They too have a consistent genre of music in which they play daily which is Hip-dop, R&B, and dance music. They are based with Bauer, and also own London ration stations such as KIS 100 IN 1985. Kiss was originally created by Guy Wingat who also was the creator of Kiss 100. Within one year kiss was already beating MTV in their time slots and gained a giant cult sot for its low budget, edgy attention of the UKs dance music.

Unlike the other two music channels, Kiss does not have a magazine or awards show just yet because there are many other ones already existing close to their genre. But kiss is unique in its own way as it has a target audience for young teens who like new and upcoming music. On the kiss website you can also listen live to the show, enter a bunch of competitions, watch videos and see the latest news about the UKs hottest artist.

To keep music up to date and modern there are also other channels around which try to do something different. Starz is a prime example as they play music on demand. This is a channel set up by a Cloud television One Limited, and is available through SKY in the UK and Ireland. The main reason as to why it got set up was because it shows a range of different music genres which are usually popular in the charts, which are chosen by the views entirely and what they want to hear. It has a heavy interaction with text messaging, as you can also send in your picture to be put on TV for further advertisement, alongside a comment section underneath the music video where Starz can reply to you. However this only last until 10pm, as this is the time the music channel is allowed to show explicit videos. Music channels have developed and transformed in many ways as to what they were like originally and now challenge forms and do not stick to the codes and conventions as shown in the many different channels, however you do get a lot of channels who chose to show a wide range of genres and also those who just stick to one for a niche audience.