MTV started in the US and then various other localized versions started to appear around the world (so technically the answer may be different for each network, but this is a question of the first ever song played). If you thought it was Dire Straits, then you will need to guess again

“Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits was inspired well after MTV’s launch when Mark Knopfler apparently overheard a conversation in an electronics store. The salesman was complaining about how tough life was selling TVs – he was reported to have said words to the effect of “that’s the way you do it. You get your money for nothing and your chicks for free.”

And the winners is, despite being a few years old at the time, Video Killed The Radio Star, by the Buggles. This was the first song ever played by MTV.

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