Viacom International Media Network announced the introduction of a non-stop music channel in January 2011. As the main MTV brand has deviated from its original purpose and increased competition from other music channels and online services, MTV addressed this issue by launching a new music channel MTV Music. The channel launched on 1 February 2011 in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. The channel replaced MTV Shows. On the 1 February 2011, on Sky UK and Sky Ireland, MTV and MTV Shows swapped positions in the EPG where MTV became part of the Entertainment channels and MTV Shows was moved to the Music channels and renamed MTV Music. MTV Shows programming was transferred to MTV, while MTV Music was dedicated to playing music videos, similarly like its sister channels MTV Base, MTV Classic, MTV Dance, MTV Hits, MTV Rocks and MTV Live. MTV Music began broadcasting in widescreen in the UK & Ireland on 28 March 2012. On 15 February 2016, MTV Music +1 launched in the UK on Sky channel 358, replacing the standard-definition version of MTV Live HD. Following the closures of MTV OMG, MTV Rocks and Club MTV on 20 July 2020, MTV Music broadcasts a weekly chart based on MTV Rocks programming on Sundays. The timeshift channel also closed as part of this change, along with the timeshifts for MTV and Comedy Central Extra.
Regional channels
Pan-European
A pan-European version of the channel. The programming consists of non-stop music videos 24-hours a day. The channel is registered with the broadcasting regulator RRTV in the Czech Republic. This channel is available in Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa. Previously, MTV Music UK was made available across Europe.
MTV Music Ireland launched on 15 October, 2013. This broadcasts the UK version with Irish entertainment updates and adverts. MTV Music Ireland closed on 31 May, 2019 and was replaced with the UK version.
Italy
channel launched in Italy on 1 March 2011, replacing MTV Plus.
Australia and New Zealand
On 3 December 2013 VIMN launched the channel in Australia replacing MTV Hits. On 1 December 2015, MTV Music launched in New Zealand on Sky Television, replacing both MTV Hits & MTV Classic. Closed on July 1, 2020 replaced by MTV Hits Australia & New Zealand.
Poland
MTV Music launched in Poland on 17 October 2017, replacing VIVA Poland after 17 years broadcasting this channel. MTV Music was closed in Poland at 3 March 2020 and replaced by MTV Music 24.
