Martha Quinn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“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.”

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

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

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

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