Have you ever wondered why the radio sucks? How horrible “artists” not only make it to the airwaves but get played every hour on the hour on every station in the country?
pay•o•la: n. Bribery of an influential person in exchange for the promotion of a product or service, such that of disc jockeys for the promotion of records.
Payola was made illegal in 1960, but “The Big 5” (whoops, Sony and BMG just merged, now it’s The Big 4!) major record labels have found plenty of ways around it. Did you know that Clear Channel (the world’s largest radio broadcaster, concert promoter, and billboard advertising firm) no longer promotes independent artists? Unless you’re on one of The Big 4 (or you happen to be a millionaire), chances are your band doesn’t have a chance to get real air time.
Here is a ray of hope! We can’t figure out why this isn’t a huge story, but maybe it will become one: New York State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, is going after EMI, Universal, Sony-BMG, and Warner (The Big 4) for alleged payola. Subpoenas have been served!
Read the article here. IT’S ON!!