MTV's Founders Detail The 'Real Story' Behind Groundbreaking Network

MTV became a cultural phenomenon after it launched August 1, 1981, giving viewers a chance to see cool visuals for their favorite tunes and introducing artists to audiences who they otherwise may not have heard of before. Since then, the network has undergone many changes, moving from debuting music videos and showcasing the latest musical talent to jaw-dropping reality series and bingeable TV. But how did the groundbreaking network come about?

On the July 31 episode of the Math & Magic podcast , iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman , who led the team that created MTV, celebrated the network's 43 anniversary by reuniting with friends and fellow co-founders John Sykes , Judy McGrath , Fred Seibert , Tom Freston and Jarl Mohn to share "the real story of MTV" and how the network led a "TV revolution."

"Let me set the stage: It's the beginning of the '80s, cable TV was still a crazy idea, most business executives and most of America didn't understand it or believe in how TV was about to change, and here comes this pack of 20 year olds with an attitude," Pittman recalled. "None of us had ever done the jobs before, all we knew is we'd grown up with rock and roll and we'd grown up with TV, and the two had never successfully come together."

He continued, "We thought it had always failed because TV people always wanted to try and make music that the TV formed... We intended to make TV that the music formed, mood and emotion. MTV was going to be about attitude and something people wanted to join. We were on a mission."

Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman has new episodes every week where Pittman is joined by a host of guests where they discuss how finding that winning combination of strategy and creativity can lead to innovative marketing techniques and "cut through the noise" of a market flooded with businesses pushing the next big thing. Past guests include Pitbull , Ryan Seacrest , Jon Bon Jovi , Paris Hilton , Gwyneth Paltrow and many more.

Check out more episodes of the Math & Magic podcast at iHeartRadio.com .