Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” became the first music video by a Black artist played in heavy rotation on MTV.
Released in 1983, the video helped change MTV’s programming direction, which had initially featured relatively few videos by Black performers. Its strong rotation followed pressure from CBS Records executive Walter Yetnikoff, who objected to MTV’s reluctance to air the video prominently.
The video is also remembered for its distinctive visual design: Jackson performs on illuminated pavement squares, and a detective follows clues through a stylized city setting. Steve Barron directed it, while Jackson’s performance became central to the song’s impact.
People sometimes confuse “Billie Jean” with “Thriller,” which became the more elaborate short film later in 1983. “Billie Jean,” however, was the important breakthrough for Jackson’s regular MTV exposure and helped open the channel to more Black artists.