Peter Dougherty

Peter Dougherty was best known as one of the co-creators, along with Ted Demme, of the influential television show Yo! MTV Raps.

The series, which focused on hip-hop and rap (previously ignored genres for MTV) helped to shape the network’s programming. Dougherty began endorsing the show in the mid-1980s, long before its premiere in August of ’88. By October it was airing weekly, and was hosted by Fab 5 Freddy. By March of the following year, ratings were so high that MTV launched a daily version. The series, with the help of Dougherty’s direction, continued until August of 1995, and became the highest rated show in MTV’s history.

In 1990 Dougherty relocated to London, where he worked for MTV Europe in various roles, including Senior Vice President and Creative Director, before he returned to New York in the mid-2000s.

A New York native, he was known for being well-connected and was friends with the Beastie Boys, music producer Rick Rubin and more. He later directed music videos for the Beastie Boys’ “Hold It Now, Hit It” and for the Pogues’ (a Celtic punk band) “Fairytale of New York.”

He also appeared as a subject in the documentary Life on Air, a behind-the-scenes look at the workings of MTV Europe, as well as the TV documentary series VH1 Goes Inside, in an episode focusing on MTV Raps.

Dougherty died October 12, 2015, in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. He was 59.