Iconic moments from MTV Unplugged to debuting breakthrough videos became part of music history. However, the company has taken a new direction by axing five of its major music channels.

 

According to The UK Sun, Paramount Global is set to shut down five MTV music channels – MTV Music, MTV 80s, MTV 90s, Club MTV, and MTV Live - by December 31, 2025. By contrast, the core MTV (main channel) will continue – now mostly focused on reality content and non-music programming. 

Euro News reports that the closures will roll out regionally. In Europe, including the UK and Ireland, shutdowns will begin in phases through 2025. In other markets such as Australia, Latin America, and Asia, similar closures have been reported.

MTV’s music channels have reportedly seen dwindling viewership in recent years – a declining trend that advertising revenue and budgets simply cannot ignore. 

 

A source told the The UK Sun: “It’s a dark day for the music industry. 

“MTV was once an industry powerhouse, but now it is a total shell of its former self.”

The decision reflects a broader truth: audiences no longer wait for music videos on TV.  Streaming platforms, social media short clips, and on-demand video services now dominate how we consume music. Former MTV VJs and staff have decried the decision with mixed sadness and acceptance. Some call it inevitable, others say it feels abrupt. 

 

While the music channels are shutting down, MTV as a brand will live on through digital platforms, streaming, events, and perhaps new formats. Still, for many, the closing of those five music channels marks the end of a television era that once defined how the world experienced music together.