Back in the 1950's the radio world was rocked with the issue of "payola". It was a simple practice: Pay money to get your record on the air. It was also illegal and brought many DJ's, radio stations and record labels to their knees.
Well now that word from a bygone era is back in the news. Sony, one of the largest record companies in the world, has admitted they "bought" hits for some big name artists.
Memo's that have been released as part of an investigation read like this:
"Please be advised that in this week's Jennifer Lopez Top 40 Spin Increase of 236 we bought 63 spins at a cost of $3,600."
"Please be advised that in this week's Good Charlotte Top 40 Spin Increase of 61 we bought approximately 250 spins at a cost of $17K..."
If that seems like alot of money just to have a song played, consider what a hit song can do. Not only do you have record sales, but you also have concerts,endorsementss,sponsorships, videos and all the licensed merchandise from clothing to perfume.
The internal memos from Sony Music, revealed today in the New York state attorney general's investigation of payola at the company, will be mind blowing to those who are not so jaded to think records are played on the radio because they're good. Have you ever heard a really bad song and wonder how it became a "hit"?
From Epic, home of J-Lo, a memo from Nov. 12, 2002, a "rate" card that shows radio stations in the Top 23 markets (Pittsburgh is #23) will receive $1000, Markets 23-100 get $800, lower markets $500. "If a record receives less than 75 spins at any given radio station, we will not pay the full rate," the memo to DJs states. "We look forward to breaking many records together in the future."
It's not only cash these guys were paying. Black-and-white evidence of plasma TVs, laptop computers and PlayStation 2 players (ALL OF WHICH SONY MAKES) being sent to DJ's and radio programmers in exchange for getting records on the air. And not just electronic gifts went to these people either. According to the papers released today, the same people also received expensive trips, limousines and lots of other incentives to clutter the airwaves with the junk passed off as pop music.
So does this go on in Pittsburgh? YOU BET IT DOES! I worked at a sister station of a now defunct TOP 40 radio station. While I personally never received anything, I will tell you record labels have paid for station t-shirts and promotional items. In one instance, an independent record promoter (who acts as a middle man between the record company and the station) provided airfare, hotel and tickets to see the Steelers play in Jacksonville, FL in exchange for adding a record to the play list of a Pittsburgh station. As soon as the trip was over, so was the song.
Most of the people behind all this are still there and still managing several area stations. They pick the songs you get to hear on Pittsburgh radio. Everything from Rock, Pop and Country. So the next time you here an awful "hit song" you might wan't to ask if someone sold you to the highest bidder?
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