Payola

It is all time we all take a serious look at PAYOLA on a larger scale. For decades PAYOLA stood for illegal payouts to Program and Music Directors of individual stations nationwide. PAYOLA for decades let the little label or artist be heard, payouts could be as little as $100 or a free meal. For a longtime radio programmers prided themselves in breaking new artist first, by any means neccesary. Believe it, many acts at radio received airplay for nothing at all, for a longtime talent and content were important, variety and originality were important. How things have changed in the past 10 years is alarming.

The Corporate strangle hold has touched every sector of business, radio and video are no exception. The Telecomm Act of 1996 opened the flood gates to power takeovers from small owners or small groups. Wall Street stepped in and variety and localism ended almost overnight. With consolidation power is in your pocket, individual station playlist became national list. The price of PAYOLA quickly multiplied from one station to one nation. Conglomerates like Clear Channel quickly grew from 39 stations to over 1200. PAYOLA turned corporate and the record industry spent less time directed toward sustaining talent, and more time pumping huge dollars into music video. Out went variety and in went repitition. Imagine the record industry demanded more spins on titles from radio. Hell, they paided for promotions, trips, gifts and cash on corporate and individual levels. The Record industry was the new pimp, finally dictating on when, what and how many times radio played titles.

Unfortunately the deal makers in the recording industry got stuck on the gangsta phase of Hip Hop. Sex, violence, misogyny and drug titles dominate new titles and product. Like in past decades of disco & R&B the talent well has dried out. The continual "same songs" are done over and over again, each time losing steam and talent. Today's PAYOLA problem is the "hoe" Radio continues to play what the "pimp" continues to dictate. Although revenue at Radio and Records continue to decline the cats in the boardroom are still profiting. The children, teens and tweens think today's playlist are the Marvin Gaye's, Michael Jackson's, Bob Marley's Tupac's or Biggie's. Unfortunately the new cast members are named D4L, Ying Yang's and Young Jeezy.

Pay for play is a hell of a system, when you here it over and over again it works! Many young ears like it, believe it and others often buy it. PAYOLA is effective on the corporate level, because when you control the airwaves you control sales. PERIOD! Yes, there are always exceptions to the rule, just like there are mutiny's and revolotions, empires fall it is time to make some noise and let them know your tired of being played. It is all time we all take a serious look at PAYOLA on a larger scale. For decades PAYOLA stood for illegal payouts to Program and Music Directors of individual stations nationwide. PAYOLA for decades let the little label or artist be heard, payouts could be as little as $100 or a free meal. For a longtime radio programmers prided themselves in breaking new artist first, by any means neccesary. Believe it, many acts at radio received airplay for nothing at all, for a longtime talent and content were important, variety and originality were important.

How things have changed in the past 10 years is alarming. The Corporate strangle hold has touched every sector of business, radio and video are no exception. The Telecomm Act of 1996 opened the flood gates to power takeovers from small owners or small groups. Wall Street stepped in and variety and localism ended almost overnight. With consolidation power is in your pocket, individual station playlist became national list. The price of PAYOLA quickly multiplied from one station to one nation. Conglomerates like Clear Channel quickly grew from 39 stations to over 1200. PAYOLA turned corporate and the record industry spent less time directed toward sustaining talent, and more time pumping huge dollars into music video. Out went variety and in went repitition. Imagine the record industry demanded more spins on titles from radio. Hell, they paided for promotions, trips, gifts and cash on corporate and individual levels. The Record industry was the new pimp, finally dictating on when, what and how many times radio played titles.

Unfortunately the deal makers in the recording industry got stuck on the gangsta phase of Hip Hop. Sex, violence, misogyny and drug titles dominate new titles and product. Like in past decades of disco & R&B the talent well has dried out. The continual "same songs" are done over and over again, each time losing steam and talent. Today's PAYOLA problem is the "hoe" Radio continues to play what the "pimp" continues to dictate. Although revenue at Radio and Records continue to decline the cats in the boardroom are still profiting. The children, teens and tweens think today's playlist are the Marvin Gaye's, Michael Jackson's, Bob Marley's Tupac's or Biggie's. Unfortunately the new cast members are named D4L, Ying Yang's and Young Jeezy. Pay for play is a hell of a system, when you here it over and over again it works! Many young ears like it, believe it and others often buy it. PAYOLA is effective on the corporate level, because when you control the airwaves you control sales. PERIOD! Yes, there are always exceptions to the rule, just like there are mutiny's and revolotions, empires fall it is time to make some noise and let them know your tired of being played.