Bill Roedy

Humility and empathy. You know, when I came to MTV after 10 years at HBO, I decided to go with three subtext personal objectives, if you will. You know, one is that I would never go on camera. And the other one is I would never be exec producers because I saw all these examples where people were CEOs had nothing to do with the program, but they called themselves exec producers.

Humility and empathy. You know, when I came to MTV after 10 years at HBO, I decided to go with three subtext personal objectives, if you will. You know, one is that I would never go on camera. And the other one is I would never be exec producers because I saw all these examples where people were CEOs had nothing to do with the program, but they called themselves exec producers.

Humility and empathy. You know, when I came to MTV after 10 years at HBO, I decided to go with three subtext personal objectives, if you will. You know, one is that I would never go on camera. And the other one is I would never be exec producers because I saw all these examples where people were CEOs had nothing to do with the program, but they called themselves exec producers.

And then the third thing is I would never become a groupie to the artists. So I must say, the one thing that I violated regularly was I became a groupie to the artist. And I decided I wanted to be on the front lines, you know, when we did events. The first thing I would do is greet the artist. I would go to the red carpet and greet them and make them feel welcomed and warm.

And then the third thing is I would never become a groupie to the artists. So I must say, the one thing that I violated regularly was I became a groupie to the artist. And I decided I wanted to be on the front lines, you know, when we did events. The first thing I would do is greet the artist. I would go to the red carpet and greet them and make them feel welcomed and warm.

And then the third thing is I would never become a groupie to the artists. So I must say, the one thing that I violated regularly was I became a groupie to the artist. And I decided I wanted to be on the front lines, you know, when we did events. The first thing I would do is greet the artist. I would go to the red carpet and greet them and make them feel welcomed and warm.

And I think that that sort of relationship and humility helped establish some sort of rapport with the artist. Now, with that being said... I had my difficulty. We had our difficulties. I had one artist who wouldn't perform unless we did an outdoor shower for them immediately. I had to do red jelly beans in the green room for one. I had one that refused. This was a very serious one.

And I think that that sort of relationship and humility helped establish some sort of rapport with the artist. Now, with that being said... I had my difficulty. We had our difficulties. I had one artist who wouldn't perform unless we did an outdoor shower for them immediately. I had to do red jelly beans in the green room for one. I had one that refused. This was a very serious one.

And I think that that sort of relationship and humility helped establish some sort of rapport with the artist. Now, with that being said... I had my difficulty. We had our difficulties. I had one artist who wouldn't perform unless we did an outdoor shower for them immediately. I had to do red jelly beans in the green room for one. I had one that refused. This was a very serious one.

to be the anchor slot on an AIDS concert in Cape Town because we had promised him a slot as the sun came down, sunset. And because his predecessor on the stage, Malisha Keys, was doing so well, she went past sunset. So he came to me and said, I'm not going on unless you yank her. And I said, no, I'm not. Well... Actually, I had to be a little more nuanced.

to be the anchor slot on an AIDS concert in Cape Town because we had promised him a slot as the sun came down, sunset. And because his predecessor on the stage, Malisha Keys, was doing so well, she went past sunset. So he came to me and said, I'm not going on unless you yank her. And I said, no, I'm not. Well... Actually, I had to be a little more nuanced.

to be the anchor slot on an AIDS concert in Cape Town because we had promised him a slot as the sun came down, sunset. And because his predecessor on the stage, Malisha Keys, was doing so well, she went past sunset. So he came to me and said, I'm not going on unless you yank her. And I said, no, I'm not. Well... Actually, I had to be a little more nuanced.

I said, let me take it under consideration because I was surrounded by bodyguards. And then I went on stage, saw the manager of Alicia Keys and said, you know, I've been asked to pour. And I just want you to know that we are not going to pull Alicia Keys from this stage. So sometimes I had to call the bluff of the artist. But more often than not, it was such a privilege.

I said, let me take it under consideration because I was surrounded by bodyguards. And then I went on stage, saw the manager of Alicia Keys and said, you know, I've been asked to pour. And I just want you to know that we are not going to pull Alicia Keys from this stage. So sometimes I had to call the bluff of the artist. But more often than not, it was such a privilege.

I said, let me take it under consideration because I was surrounded by bodyguards. And then I went on stage, saw the manager of Alicia Keys and said, you know, I've been asked to pour. And I just want you to know that we are not going to pull Alicia Keys from this stage. So sometimes I had to call the bluff of the artist. But more often than not, it was such a privilege.

to work for professional artists like U2 and REM, and there's just unlimited amounts. And I developed a huge respect for their creativity and just wanted to welcome them and show appreciation for them being part of MTV.

to work for professional artists like U2 and REM, and there's just unlimited amounts. And I developed a huge respect for their creativity and just wanted to welcome them and show appreciation for them being part of MTV.

to work for professional artists like U2 and REM, and there's just unlimited amounts. And I developed a huge respect for their creativity and just wanted to welcome them and show appreciation for them being part of MTV.

Well, I think it's on two levels, Simon, personal and then also business. Personal, because I had come from L.A. and the creative community, being with HBO, I encountered the AIDS pandemic very early in the 80s and, of course, knew many people that fell to the disease tragically. By the time I got to MTV, we...

Well, I think it's on two levels, Simon, personal and then also business. Personal, because I had come from L.A. and the creative community, being with HBO, I encountered the AIDS pandemic very early in the 80s and, of course, knew many people that fell to the disease tragically. By the time I got to MTV, we...