MTV used to rule pop culture. Now it mostly breaks through once a year.

MTV, the 45-year-old network and music video pioneer, was once the arbiter of cool. They played all the hottest new songs from some of the biggest stars the country has ever seen: Madonna, David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Prince. They ushered in the era of boy band domination and made a space for teen culture to thrive. Now, MTV isn't dead, but it's more of a nostalgic icon than a network that people turn on to actively watch or listen to music. These days, you'll find seemingly endless rer