Payola gives way to indie power
By: RANDY DOTINGA - For the North County Times
You might have assumed that radio payola had disappeared along with two-toned shoes, hair tonic and pink Cadillacs. But you'd be wrong.
Payola is alive and well, at least according to prosecutors. In fact, a pay-for-play scandal even hit San Diego a few years ago.
Now, a recent payola brouhaha is going to create a boon for local and independent artists. A new settlement between the Federal Communications Commission and four radio chains will force stations to "throw open the airwaves to a more eclectic mix," as the Chicago Tribune puts it.
So what's payola? It's a funny little word for the serious art of bribing disc jockeys and radio programmers with cash or goodies. Back in the 1950s, it was rampant, and the government had to step in to level the playing field.
Payola may sound perfectly reasonable: Why not pay for play? Nothing's free. But the problem is that payola freezes out up-and-coming artists (and smaller record producers) who don't have money to throw around.
According to news reports, the new settlement affects four big radio chains ---- Clear Channel, CBS/Infinity, Entercom and Citadel. They're finalizing a deal with the FCC that would require them to play 8,400 half-hour segments of more obscure artists, such as local and independent singers.
The companies will also pay $12.5 million in fines.
As I mentioned, San Diego hasn't been immune from payola scandals. A couple of years ago, New York state's attorney general Eliot Spitzer ----
now the governor ---- charged that Sony BMG music promoters bribed programmers at several stations across the country. He alleged that one of them was Diana Laird, who had been the top programmer at hip-hop station Jammin Z90 and Top 40 station Channel 933.
According to court filings, promoters bribed Laird in November 2002 by sending her a 32-inch plasma TV worth $3,325 and then tried to cover it up.
Laird, as they say, is no longer with the company.
The settlement could have a big impact in San Diego. Clear Channel owns five music stations here, including the Rock 105.3, Star 94.1, Channel 933, U.S. 95.7 and KGB. CBS/Infinity owns one (soft-music KyXy).
In a statement, Clear Channel said it has devoted "tremendous resources" to fighting payola at its stations.
Potentially, the deal could lead to the creation of more shows emphasizing local music. It could also broaden song playlists, which some listeners complain are too limited.
By: RANDY DOTINGA - For the North County Times
You might have assumed that radio payola had disappeared along with two-toned shoes, hair tonic and pink Cadillacs. But you'd be wrong.
Payola is alive and well, at least according to prosecutors. In fact, a pay-for-play scandal even hit San Diego a few years ago.
Now, a recent payola brouhaha is going to create a boon for local and independent artists. A new settlement between the Federal Communications Commission and four radio chains will force stations to "throw open the airwaves to a more eclectic mix," as the Chicago Tribune puts it.
So what's payola? It's a funny little word for the serious art of bribing disc jockeys and radio programmers with cash or goodies. Back in the 1950s, it was rampant, and the government had to step in to level the playing field.
Payola may sound perfectly reasonable: Why not pay for play? Nothing's free. But the problem is that payola freezes out up-and-coming artists (and smaller record producers) who don't have money to throw around.
According to news reports, the new settlement affects four big radio chains ---- Clear Channel, CBS/Infinity, Entercom and Citadel. They're finalizing a deal with the FCC that would require them to play 8,400 half-hour segments of more obscure artists, such as local and independent singers.
The companies will also pay $12.5 million in fines.
As I mentioned, San Diego hasn't been immune from payola scandals. A couple of years ago, New York state's attorney general Eliot Spitzer ----
now the governor ---- charged that Sony BMG music promoters bribed programmers at several stations across the country. He alleged that one of them was Diana Laird, who had been the top programmer at hip-hop station Jammin Z90 and Top 40 station Channel 933.
According to court filings, promoters bribed Laird in November 2002 by sending her a 32-inch plasma TV worth $3,325 and then tried to cover it up.
Laird, as they say, is no longer with the company.
The settlement could have a big impact in San Diego. Clear Channel owns five music stations here, including the Rock 105.3, Star 94.1, Channel 933, U.S. 95.7 and KGB. CBS/Infinity owns one (soft-music KyXy).
In a statement, Clear Channel said it has devoted "tremendous resources" to fighting payola at its stations.
Potentially, the deal could lead to the creation of more shows emphasizing local music. It could also broaden song playlists, which some listeners complain are too limited.
