Rio (Michael Nesmith song)
Rio is a song written and sung by American musician Michael Nesmith.[1] Included on his 1977 album From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing, it was released as a single.[2] Popular interest in the song's music video rather than the song itself led Nesmith to consider the creation of television programming that was comprised of music videos.[2] Nesmith sent a proposal he called "Popclips", which was picked up by then cable television operator Nickelodeon.[2] In a 2013 interview published in Rolling Stone, Nesmith said of the Rio music video, "I said to people, “It’s a promotional film ... The answer was that I simply needed to complete the equation. “Radio is to records as television is to video.” Then it was like, “Of course!” and thus MTV was born.” [3]
References
- ^ A.D. Amorosi (December 21, 2021). "Michael Nesmith Remembered Through His Best Songs — With and Without the Monkees". Variety (magazine). Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c Randy Lewis (music journalist) (February 7, 1992). "Nesmith Was Also a Music Video Pioneer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ "Q&A: Michael Nesmith on His Recommitment to the Monkees". Rolling Stone. July 10, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2020.