altmusictv
altmusictv is the vault of alternative music television. since 2003, we've been archiving the history of MTV’s 120 minutes and subterranean on MTV2, the first and last shows that played alternative videos with VJs, guests, and live performances. music videos still exist, of course, but the concept of an alternative music show has gone away. we want to preserve the legacy of the shows we loved, so we’ve assembled a massive archive of playlists and interviews with former hosts.
BlogBlog

3/10/2008 — week of march 10, 2008

There's now a new contender in the world of alternative music television. Pitchfork assembled the resources to launch their own broadband channel, and we can't wait. Is this the future?
Also this week, more 120 playlists for the archive (which continues to grow like crazy), obscure music trivia #3, and oh yeah, you can now watch the series finale of 120 Minutes right here.

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MTV's 120 Minutes

about 120 minutes

MTV's classic series, 120 Minutes, slipped onto the airwaves on March 10th, 1986,
at 1 AM. This late Sunday night time slot would be the show's home for 17 years.

  full history of mtv's 120 minutes

playlist archive

With your help, we're building a massive retrospective of 120 Minutes. Take a look back with 367 playlists from the series,
updated 3/10/2008 with 7 new playlists.

  full index of 120 minutes playlists

series finale video

The last episode of 120 Minutes aired on MTV2 on May 4th, 2003, hosted by Jim Shearer, Dave Kendall, and Matt Pinfield, and we have the full video right here.

  full video of 120 minutes finale

exit interview

After the finale ended and the cameras were turned off, Jim Shearer continued talking to Dave Kendall and Matt Pinfield about the great legacy they left behind.

  full interview w/ dave & matt
MTV2 Subterranean

history and archive

In 2003, Subterranean was billed as the evolution of 120 Minutes. Until 2007, it was. Subterranean was the last stand of the MTV alternative music video show.

  full archives of subterranean

jim shearer Q&A

Jim Shearer, the last sign of intelligent life on MTV, generously took some of his time in 2007 to sit down with altmusictv and answer questions from our visitors.

  full interview w/ jim shearer