Raised by Radio

Learn more

đŸ“ș The Big 40 Countdown – 80s on 8

Every Saturday morning, the Big 40 Countdown on Sirius XM brings the 80s roaring back.

But what makes it special isn’t just the chart.

It’s the voices.

Three of the original MTV VJs —
Mark Goodman,
Martha Quinn, and
Alan Hunter —
don’t just introduce songs


They remember them.

đŸŽ„ When MTV Changed Everything

When MTV launched in 1981, it didn’t just play music.

It reframed it.

Suddenly songs had faces.
Stories had visuals.
Artists had personalities.

So when the Big 40 Countdown rolls through a week from 1983 or 1987, you’re not just hearing the hits — you’re getting the inside perspective from the people who were there when the cameras first rolled.

And that changes everything.

🧠 The Tidbits Make It Gold

What makes your Saturday mornings special isn’t just:

  • Who’s at #1
  • The biggest jump
  • The forgotten gem at #27

It’s the stories.

Mark remembering an awkward first interview.
Martha describing the frenzy around a rising star.
Alan recalling what it felt like backstage during the peak of a tour.

Those little memories turn songs into time machines.

When a Duran Duran track comes on, you’re not just hearing it — you’re back in the neon glow of early MTV.

When Prince hits the countdown, you’re reminded how electric he felt in that era.

When Madonna climbs the chart, you hear what it was like before she became untouchable.

đŸ“» The Evolution of the Countdown

What’s beautiful about this show is it is a full-circle moment.

  • Casey made it historic.
  • Scott made it explosive.
  • Rick made it fun.
  • MTV made it visual.
  • SiriusXM makes it reflective.

The Big 40 Countdown isn’t just a chart.

It’s curated nostalgia.

It’s professionals who lived through the decade helping you relive it — with context, warmth, and just enough insider sparkle.

☀ Saturday Morning Ritual

There’s something poetic about this filling your Saturday mornings now.

Same anticipation.
Same structure.
Different season of life.

You’re not recording songs off the radio anymore


But you’re still counting down.

And maybe that’s the magic of countdown culture.

It gives music a narrative.

And it gives us a rhythm to come back to.

Leave a comment