MTV: The Fallout

As a 21-year-old college student, I found your cover stories on the 10th anniversary of MTV to be too one-sided in its favor (“The Channel That Ate the World,” July 28).

Because of MTV, a band is considered a success not because of its talent but instead because of its image. MTV is a business, let us not forget that. Artists that get airplay need to look presentable (for example, Poison, Whitesnake, M.C. Hammer and New Kids on the Block) rather than possess the raw energy that rock ‘n’ roll used to have.

If MTV concentrated on music, rather than Madison Avenue commercialism, such bands as the Replacements, the Pixies and 10,000 Maniacs would receive considerably more airplay. It has gotten to the point where I watch MTV just for “120 Minutes,” the only safe haven from brainless dance music and overtly sexist “glam” rock.

KENNETH SCALIR

Tarzana