MTV launches and music becomes more visual
1981 changed the relationship between sound and image. MTV launched in the United States, giving music videos a new role in breaking artists and shaping global pop identity.
Video culture begins
British new wave and synth-pop acts were especially well positioned for the new medium because style, fashion and visual concept were already central to their appeal.
Electronic pop moves forward
The Human League, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode and other acts pushed synthesizers further into mainstream pop.
Why 1981 matters
The launch of MTV accelerated a decade-long shift in which music, fashion, video and celebrity became one connected system.