Print Logos - MTV

1st Logo (prototype) (May 5, 1980 - August 1st, 1981)


Logo: The black letters "MTV" with lines connecting each letter together. The line connecting the letters "M" and "T" ends with a white glove-clad hand holding an eighth note symbol. Underneath is the text "THE MUSIC CHANNEL" in Eras font, also in black.

2nd Logo (August 1st, 1981 - May 31st, 1994)
Logo: A large, block-like "M" (similar to Gill Sans) with the letters "TV" "spraypainted" onto its right side. Below it is the text "MUSIC TELEVISION" set in a heavily modified version of Helvetica Black (or Neue Haas Grotesk).

Variants: Sometimes the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text is set in Helvetica Medium.

Trivia: This logo was designed by Pat Gorman, Frank Olinsky and Patti Rogoff at Manhattan Design under the guidance of Fred Seibert, who, along with his partner Alan Goodman, later went on to oversee the creation of the logo for MTV's sister network Nickelodeon.

Note: In its early years of usage (from 1981 until 1985 or 1986), a trademark ("TM") symbol was used instead of a registered trademark ("®") symbol.

3rd Logo (May 31st, 1994 - February 8th, 2010)
Logo: Same as before, but the main design has been cleaned and tightened up slightly, and the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text is now set in Helvetica Black.

Variations:
 * A simplified version of exists, with the main design simplified and the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text in Helvetica Medium. This version would later form the basis of the 2010 logo.

Trivia: This logo made its first known appearance on the fifth volume of MTV's Party to Go album series, released on May 31, 1994.

4th Logo (February 8th, 2010 - 2021)
Logo: Same as the last logo, but the "MUSIC TELEVISION" text has been removed and the logo itself has been cropped and slightly modified.

Variations:
 * An alternate version exists with thicker outlines and the "TV" text straightened out.

Trivia: This is essentially a cropped version of the simplified 1997 logo.

5th Logo (February 5th, 2021 - present)
Logo: Same as the last logo, but colored in Yellow, Blue and Red.

Variations:
 * A single-color version is used for specific piece of content, which does away with the 3D effect (much akin to the current VMA variant).

Trivia: This logo was designed by Loyalkaspar.