If you were around in the '80s, you know what a big deal MTV was. It launched on August 1, 1981, with the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star," and MTV changed the way we listened to tunes. Music was an all-analog medium, the CD was still a year away, and YouTube was beyond our imaginations. Thirty years ago MTV brought a new dimension to music, and we started to care a lot more about the way bands looked and moved on camera. Before MTV, music programming on TV was mostly limited to bands playing a song or two on the late-night talk shows or "Saturday Night Live."

For years MTV has had little regular music programming, but on July 4, MTV, VH1, and CMT will return to playing music videos from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tune in and watch the "ultimate party playlist" for fans of pop, country, hip-hop, indie, and electronic dance music.