<P> The original purpose of the channel was to build upon the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly older demographic than its sister channel, focusing on the lighter, softer side of popular music . More recently, much like MTV, VH1 has been in the area of reality television programming, such as Behind the Music, the I Love...series and the Celebreality block of programming, as part of the channel's current focus on programming primarily aimed towards women . </P> <P> As of January 2016, approximately 90.2 million US households receive VH1 . </P> <P> VH1's aim was to focus on the lighter, softer side of popular music, including such musicians as Olivia Newton - John, Kenny Rogers, Carly Simon, Tina Turner, Elton John, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, Sting, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Anita Baker, Chicago and Fleetwood Mac, in hopes of appealing to people aged 18 to 35, and possibly older . Also frequently featured in the network's early years were "videos" for Motown and other 60s oldies consisting of newsreel and concert footage . It was introduced on January 1, 1985, with the video performance of "The Star - Spangled Banner" by Marvin Gaye . </P> <P> From the start, Video Hits One was branded as an urban version of its sister / parent channel . It played more jazz and R&B artists than MTV and had a higher rotation of urban - contemporary performers . Its early on - camera personalities were New York radio veterans Don Imus (then of WNBC), Frankie Crocker (then program director and DJ for WBLS), Scott Shannon (of WHTZ), Jon Bauman ("Bowzer" from Sha Na Na), Bobby Rivers, and Rita Coolidge . </P>

What was the first music video on vh1