The Original MTV VJs After MTV

On August 1, 1981, MTV launched and revolutionized television by introducing "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles to a live feed. This groundbreaking moment was hosted by the network's first five on-air personalities, known as the "original veejays": Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, J.J. Jackson, and Martha Quinn.

Four of the five original MTV VJs - Nina Blackwood, Mark Goodman, Alan Hunter, and Martha Quinn - gathered their recollections in ‘VJ: The Unplugged Adventures of MTV’s First Wave’. J.J. Jackson died in 2004.

What They Did After MTV

After their iconic stints with MTV, the surviving members of the first wave carried on their careers in television and radio.

Notable among them, Nina Blackwood found a new home on Sirius XM Radio's The 80s on 8 channel. During her time there, she co-hosted a weeknight program and currently hosts The Big '80s Top 40 Countdown on weekends.

Mark Goodman was another of the original five who moved to SiriusXM. He has hosted radio programs, including '80s on 8 and Classic Rewind, helping to bridge generations of music listeners.

He has been on SiriusXM’s '80s on 8 since 2004, so he joined in the SiriusXM years of Goodman and fellow original VJ Martha Quinn.

These four, each having worked at Sirius XM, became a notable public reference point to the music TV format that was once their sole calling. Their careers ranged beyond ’80s pop.

J.J. Jackson

Jackson was among the original MTV VJs. He was part of MTV's early years.

The Legacy of the Originals

Today, the original five VJs remain a cultural touchstone for music television's rise. While their post-MTV careers took diverse paths, they continue to be remembered as the pioneers who helped shape the landscape of modern entertainment.