Network: MTV
Episodes: 2,247 (hour)
Seasons: 10

TV show dates: September 14, 1998 — November 16, 2008
Series status: Cancelled/ended

Performers include: Carson Daly, Damien Fahey, Vanessa Minnillo, Quddus, La La Vasquez, Susie Castillo, and Hilarie Burton, Lyndsey Rodrigues

TV show description:
This daily music series is recorded live-to-tape in New York’s busy Time Square. Viewers vote for their favorite music video and the top ten videos are played, countdown style. In addition to the music videos, the show features interviews with musician guests as well as actors and actresses.

Viewers were initially allowed to vote online and by phone as many times as they wanted. Such exposure helped to launch the careers of sensations like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson. It also helped boy bands like the Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC achieve worldwide commercial success. Videos of these bands were so popular that, after remaining on the charts for so long, they had to be retired in order to allow for a new rotation of music.

Eventually the rules were changed and viewers were only allowed to cast one vote online per day. Aside from the votes, other factors were taken into consideration when putting together the day’s top ten countdown. In addition to fan votes, the top ten videos are also based on charts, downloads, and radio airplay statistics.