This letter was composed by many Associations that want changes in within the FCC and Congress. It talks about how payola affects independent artists as well as the general public. It also goes into specfics how vertical integration, horizontal integration effect the independent artists as well. To read the article click here.
This article is by John Eggerton from Broadcasting and Cable on April 3rd 2007. It talks about how Free Press is really upset about the FCC’s action or lack there off with payola. They have sent 50,000 letters to the FCC complaining about their progress. Clear Channel has offered to pay 3 million to settle their investigation but Free Press is even more outraged about that because 3 million for Clear Channel is peanuts. It’s interesting to look at the recent progress in payola. Take a look at this article.
This article is from salon.com by Eric Boehlert who has written multiple articles about payola for salon. This article was written in 2001 and is interesting to look at because it says in order to fight payola we need to get investigations of these huge radio conglomerates going in order to trigger the FCC. Now that Eliot Spitzer has spear headed these investigations is payola really on it’s way to stopping? I would have to argue that it is not. Considering Sptizer is taking 10 times as much action as the FCC. While yes there are new rules being made and things in progress things still aren’t much better even after investigations have been held. “If you have to pay $10,000 to shut your boss up, goddamn it, you pay.” — A major-label executive. I think this is well put, “They’re tired of people making an obscene amount of money — and that is the right word, obscene — and the obscene amount of abuse that’s going on. It’s just wrong. We need regulators to look at it, someone who stands up and says this stinks. Because the airwaves belong to the public, they’re federally licensed. You can’t do anything you want with them.” click here to take a look at the article.
The suit charges that the Clear Channel penalizes performing artists who hire NPP by keeping those artists off Clear Channel-owned radio stations, which is terrible because clear channel owns 1200 stations. Radio airplay is one of the most important ways that artists build careers, and radio promotional support is a key part of filling concert venues. They charged them with predatory and anticompetitive business practices. Click here to see the article
Here is a link to the FCC’s website, which outlines the current regulations in place to combat payola. The problem with these rules is that they are rarely enforced and there are loop holes in them. Like the Third Party Loophole where the Music Groups pay a third party to payoff radio stations for air time.
This article gives a list of ten basic facts about payola; such as what is payola? Is it still a problem? How does payola work? Doesn’t payola help musicians? How can I make a difference? etc. I think this is just a good brief over view of what payola really is. Click here for article.
This article talks about the recent payola settlements that have occured. It also talks about the part of the settlement that helps out independent artists and their hopes that the FCC with follow through on its deal. Click here.
Check out this website for some payola activism. Click here
I’ve been looking at the history of payola and I thought that this article was almost humorous. In 1960 Emanuel Celler and US rep. thought that payola was the cause of the popularity of rock’n'roll. Which may have a sense of truth to it. If popular music is only music that has air time because people paid for that air time then essentially any popular music (due to radio influence) is because of payola. Celler was very cynical about rock’n'roll which was funny to look at now. This article was from the New York Times March 28, 1960 and I got it from proquest Historical Newspapers.
In the article, “Ten Things You Need to Know about Payola”, it states that in 1960 DJ Alan Freed was one of the first DJs to break commercial bribery laws by accepting $2,500 to play certain songs on the radio. Alan said that the money was a “token of gratitude” that did not affect airplay. But the FCC disagreed and passed some of the first regulations that banned payola in broadcasting. Click here if you want to learn more or find answers about general payola topics.