MTV Logo

MTV Logo PNG

Music with a capital letter sounds on the channel. The MTV logo shows admiration for magical chords. Broadcasts may only cover a small percentage of all the content created in the world, but they do it in style and taste.

Meaning and History

Before becoming MTV, the channel was called The Music Channel and used a different logo. The only thing that unites them is the large “M” formed from the word “music” with a specific designation on the side. Initially, it was a note; now, it is a “TV ” icon—concept author—Manhattan Design agency.

What is MTV?

MTV stands for Music Television, an American 24-hour music channel. It is owned by MTV Entertainment Group, which is part of Paramount Media Networks. The channel was founded in 1981, and its headquarters is in New York City.

1977 – 1981 (pre-launch)

First, Warner Cable started a channel called Sight on Sound. He was experimental and concerned with everything related to music. It was on this basis that the now-famous MTV was subsequently created. He had his badge, which exactly echoed the name. It was an improvised eye; therefore, it had a round shape, and the phrase “Sight on Sound” was compactly inscribed and occupied three rows – each with one word.

The lines were aligned on two sides. The legs “n” and “d” were connected to form a single solid line on the right. On the left, capital “S” and “g” rested against the semicircle wall. The inscriptions were curly, with bold letters and smooth transitions. The lowercase “o” looked like an inverted recording microphone hanging from a stand.

1980 – 1981 (pre-launch)

He needed a new logo after it became clear that the music channel would not be called Sight on Sound but MTV. This version was not used for long and was changed before the official launch of the cable channel. The black acronym “MTV” in bold italic sans-serif was the center of attention. Between the “T” and “V” (in the background) was a wide diagonal line. And from “M” to “T,” stretched a black hand in a white glove. It was tilted parallel to the second diagonal and partially covered the “T” standing beside it. The palm squeezed a musical note like a grenade with a check, symbolizing explosive content. At the bottom, the phrase “THE MUSIC CHANNEL” was written in small but capital glyphs. The designers slightly deformed the text, tilting the letters to the right.

1981 – 1994

After renaming the specialized channel, the Manhattan Design Studio worked on its identity. In particular, Patty Rogoff (her representative) drew the monumental “M,” which everyone now knows, and Frank Olinsky (the designer of the same agency) drew the abbreviation “TV.” The process was led by Fred Seibert, who oversaw the rebranding of several channels. The background letter was in the shape of a cube and was three-dimensional, even though it consisted of only one outline. The superimposed inscription was executed in a thin “trembling” line. At the bottom was the black phrase “Music Television.” In style, it was strict and was considered decoding of the upper designation.

1994 – 2010

From 01.08.1981 to 18.03.2009, the phrase “Music Television” was located under the emblem. Its shortened version was on the “M” on the right side. The white abbreviation on a dark background looked impressive; the right part of the “v” went beyond the inscription and was edged with a black line. The geometric projection makes the letter itself massive, wide, and three-dimensional. Due to the unique design of the logo, the music channel quickly gained wide recognition.

2010 – 2021

In 2008, at the opening of FNMTV, the studio used a revised and truncated logo that flashed on the air of most television programs. The next year, the updated sign became the official symbol of MTV, debuting on March 18, 2009, on the channel’s official website.

The bottom inscription “Music Television” disappeared from the logo because it was already recognizable and no longer needed marketing elements. The network switched to a different broadcasting format, sharply reducing the number of programs and focusing only on multi-format music. This shift in emphasis started earlier and culminated in a small logo change. The second option was developed independently by MTV employees.

The current version looks like the chopped-off “M” of the previous format. She is squat, with short legs and no protruding part of the letter “v.” It now has a lot more space, which was required to visually transform the sign into other custom logos because the network has several separate directions. So, she changed the logo to fit the necessary visual context because the trend of flexible design identity is very relevant now.

The letter “M” is more of a graphic than a text caption. It has a custom sans-serif typeface. The “TV” sign contrasts with it, as it is handwritten in italics. The emblem’s color scheme is simple: a combination of black and white, which act as a background for each other and create three-dimensionality.

2021 – today

The new logo appeared officially in mid-September 2021 and was first used at the Video Music Awards. Its developer is Loyalkaspar Studio. The most important point in modernizing the identity is rejecting the three-dimensional effect. The letter “M” now stands exactly in front of view. This is for the convenience of scaling the logo so that advertising can be visible on all media types. At the same time, the designers offered a different custom-made font. All facets of the symbol are even and clear; on the right leg, the designation “TV” is visible in the negative space. It has been kept the same.

Font and Colors

Several typefaces were used during the logo’s modification: Helvetica Black (later transformed into Helvetica Neue Black), Kabel Black, and Gravity Grotesk (current version). The color scheme remained stable and consisted of a combination of black and white. The first was the large “M,” and the second was the abbreviation “TV.”