<P> Along with VH1, MTV broadcast the Live 8 concerts, a series of concerts set in the G8 states and South Africa, on July 2, 2005 . Live 8 preceded the 31st G8 summit and the 20th anniversary of Live Aid . MTV drew heavy criticism for its coverage of Live 8 . The network cut to commercials, VJ commentary, or other performances during performances . Complaints surfaced on the Internet over MTV interrupting the reunion of Pink Floyd . In response, MTV president Van Toeffler stated that he wanted to broadcast highlights from every venue of Live 8 on MTV and VH1, and clarified that network hosts talked over performances only in transition to commercials, informative segments or other musical performances . Toeffler acknowledged that "MTV should not have placed such a high priority on showing so many acts, at the expense of airing complete sets by key artists ." He also blamed the Pink Floyd interruption on a mandatory cable affiliate break . MTV averaged 1.4 million viewers for its original July 2 broadcast of Live 8 . Consequently, MTV and VH1 aired five hours of uninterrupted Live 8 coverage on July 9, with each channel airing different blocks of artists . </P> <P> MTV had debuted Dial MTV in 1986, a daily top ten music video countdown show for which viewers could call the toll - free telephone number 1 - 800 - DIAL - MTV to request a music video . The show would be replaced by MTV Most Wanted in 1991, which ran until 1996, and later saw a spiritual successor in Total Request Live . The phone number remained in use for video requests until 2006 . </P> <P> Also in 1986, the channel introduced 120 Minutes, a show that would feature low - rotation, alternative rock and other "underground" videos for the next 14 years on MTV and three additional years on sister channel MTV2 . The program then became known as Subterranean on MTV2 . Eight years later, on July 31, 2011, 120 Minutes was resurrected with Matt Pinfield taking over hosting duties once again and airing monthly on MTV2 . </P> <P> Another late night music video show was added in 1987, Headbangers Ball, which featured heavy metal music and news . Before its abrupt cancellation in 1995, it featured several hosts including Riki Rachtman and Adam Curry . A weekly block of music videos with the name Headbangers Ball aired from 2003 to 2011 on sister channel MTV2, before spending an additional two years as a web - only series on MTV2's website, until Headbangers Ball was discontinued once again in 2013 . </P>

Michael jackson's music was first played on mtv in