 The Monkees also frequently contributed their own songwriting efforts on their albums and saw their musical skills improve.They ultimately became a self-directed group, playing their own instruments and writing many of their own songs.Monkees and 1960s music historian Andrew Sandoval wrote in "The Hollywood Reporter" that the Monkees "pioneered the music video format [and band member Mike Nesmith dreamed up the prototype for what would become MTV] and paved the way for every boy band that followed in their wake, from New Kids on the Block to 'N Sync to the Jonas Brothers, while Davy set the stage for future teen idols David Cassidy and Justin Bieber.