MTV used to be the iconic 'IT' channel for millennials. Pop music and the newest releases would entice people to tune in after school or college. Now, after decades of shaping music culture and youth entertainment worldwide, the channel is bidding farewell to its music legacy. Paramount Global announced on October 12, 2025, that several of MTV’s music-focused channels -MTV 80s, MTV Music, Club MTV, MTV 90s, and MTV Live - will be shut down globally by December 31, 2025.
Luckily, MTV HD will continue to air reality TV shows, which, as many entertainment enthusiasts admit, are guilty pleasures. With this move, the brand is officially shifting from music videos and artistic promotions, for which it was once widely celebrated.
Why is MTV shutting down music channels?
The choice was made due to the recent shift in viewing trends. There has been a sharp drop in the number of people watching music videos on MTV as platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Spotify are taking over the music industry. Paramount Global's recent merger with Skydance Media, which allegedly sparked a $500 million global cost-cutting push, has likewise changed course.
Netizen reactions
The announcement triggered waves of nostalgia on social media. Users of X (formerly known as Twitter) flooded the platform with memes and heartfelt messages. One user wrote, "RIP MTV! After 40 years, MTV is shutting down all their music channels outside of the US." Another user wrote, “I remember when MTV actually played music and didn't suck. 80s MTV was the best." One user reflected, " MTV used to premiere music videos 24/7, but later focused more on reality shows because it made them more money." Another user wrote, " MTV was culturally and spiritually dead when it stopped airing music videos. Corporate-led decline of what was once the coolest brand in existence. Sad. "
