Inside Radio March 5 said:"Payola" in the headlines again.
There's a settlement - in the form of a consent decree - coming from CBS, Clear Channel, Entercom and Citadel. The deal reported today by the AP is along the lines of recent rumors - but the package between those four groups and the FCC is extensive and includes a combined payment of $12.5 million plus 8400 half-hours of free airtime for independent labels and local artists.
So the bog boys make this one "go away" very nicely. About that "84 hundred half hours of free airtime." You can't help but think that will be on Sunday morning, just before the public affairs shows... around 4 a.m.