Industry Jul 7, 2026

The Decline of Hair Metal on MTV

Two top 10 hits and two million album sales couldn't save them

Originally published by MusicRadar
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The Decline of Hair Metal on MTV

The text discusses the impact of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video on the music industry, particularly on MTV's programming. The band's success, symbolized by Kurt Cobain wearing a specific sweater, led to a shift away from hair metal bands. Despite achieving two top 10 hits and selling two million albums, the band mentioned could not maintain their presence on the channel. Originally reported by MusicRadar.