What was the first music video broadcast on MTV when the channel launched on August 1, 1981?

The first music video broadcast on MTV was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the Buggles.

MTV began broadcasting in the United States at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981. The launch opened with footage of an astronaut and the channel’s famous “Music Television” identification before the Buggles video appeared. Its lyrics about changing technology made it a memorable choice for a television network built around a new way of consuming music.

The video was directed by Russell Mulcahy and released in 1979. It became closely associated with MTV even though it had originally been made for conventional music programming. The channel’s early schedule mixed promotional videos with presenter-led introductions, news, interviews, and other music programming. MTV’s launch helped make music videos a central part of popular culture rather than merely promotional extras.