<P> Issued to radio on August 27 , 1991 , `` Smells Like Teen Spirit '' was released two weeks later on September 10 as the lead single from Nevermind , the band 's major label debut on DGC Records . The song did not initially chart , and it sold well only in regions of the United States with an established fanbase for the group . `` Smells Like Teen Spirit '' was not expected to be a hit , for it was merely intended to be the base - building alternative rock cut from the album . It was anticipated that the follow - up single `` Come as You Are '' would be the song that could cross over to mainstream formats . However , campus radio and modern rock radio stations picked up on the track , and placed it on heavy rotation . Danny Goldberg of Nirvana 's management firm Gold Mountain later admitted that `` none of us heard it as a crossover song , but the public heard it and it was instantaneous ... They heard it on alternative radio , and then they rushed out like lemmings to buy it . '' The video received its world premiere on MTV 's late - night alternative rock program 120 Minutes , and proved so popular that the channel began to air it during its regular daytime rotation . MTV added the video to its `` Buzz Bin '' selection in October , where it stayed until mid-December . By the end of the year , the song , its accompanying video , and the Nevermind album had become hits . Both the song and Nevermind became a rare cross-format phenomenon , reaching all the major rock radio formats including modern rock , hard rock , album rock , and college radio . </P>
<P> Issued to radio on August 27 , 1991 , `` Smells Like Teen Spirit '' was released two weeks later on September 10 as the lead single from Nevermind , the band 's major label debut on DGC Records . The song did not initially chart , and it sold well only in regions of the United States with an established fanbase for the group . `` Smells Like Teen Spirit '' was not expected to be a hit , for it was merely intended to be the base - building alternative rock cut from the album . It was anticipated that the follow - up single `` Come as You Are '' would be the song that could cross over to mainstream formats . However , campus radio and modern rock radio stations picked up on the track , and placed it on heavy rotation . Danny Goldberg of Nirvana 's management firm Gold Mountain later admitted that `` none of us heard it as a crossover song , but the public heard it and it was instantaneous ... They heard it on alternative radio , and then they rushed out like lemmings to buy it . '' The video received its world premiere on MTV 's late - night alternative rock program 120 Minutes , and proved so popular that the channel began to air it during its regular daytime rotation . MTV added the video to its `` Buzz Bin '' selection in October , where it stayed until mid-December . By the end of the year , the song , its accompanying video , and the Nevermind album had become hits . Both the song and Nevermind became a rare cross-format phenomenon , reaching all the major rock radio formats including modern rock , hard rock , album rock , and college radio . </P>
when did smells like teen spirit first air on mtv
when did smells like teen spirit first air on mtv
1991
1991