Martha Quinn

“I think the thing to remember is that MTV was not an overnight success.”

“We were just making it up as we went along. Nobody knew what a VJ was.”

“I was just a kid from upstate New York. I had no idea what was about to happen.”

“The power of music to connect people is something I witnessed firsthand every single day at MTV.”

“We didn't have stylists or teleprompters. It was very raw and real.”

“I think nostalgia is a powerful thing, but it's also important to live in the present.”

“People still come up to me and say, 'You were the soundtrack of my youth.' It's an incredible honor.”

“I'm just so grateful for the entire experience. It shaped who I am.”

“Rock and roll is about rebellion and freedom, and that's what we represented.”

“Seeing the world is the best education you can get. You see sorrow, and you see great joy. You see all the universalities that connect us.”

“Music is a universal language, and MTV was the messenger.”

“The '80s were a time of great optimism and creativity in music.”

“Being a VJ was the best job in the world. I got to listen to music and talk to my favorite artists.”

“The first five years of MTV were total insanity... It was really like being a Beatle.”