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Sony Payola

R

rev_darkness

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050725/music_probe.html?.v=11

My questions are:

What happens to the stations, stations managers, and PD's that took the Payola?

Which stations, station managers, and PD's took payola locally?

How much better will radio get once they stop forcing this mass produced bubble gum pop rock on us?<P ID="signature">______________
GIT/MC$ d- s: a C++++$ U*++++$ P+ L++ E--- W+++$ N o K w O- M++$ V-- PS PE+ Y+ PGP !t !5 X++ R+ tv+ b++ DI++++ D++ G e* h--- r+++ y+++</P>
 
> http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050725/music_probe.html?.v=11
>
> My questions are:
>
> What happens to the stations, stations managers, and PD's
> that took the Payola?
>
> Which stations, station managers, and PD's took payola
> locally?
>
> How much better will radio get once they stop forcing this
> mass produced bubble gum pop rock on us?
>
Hopefully one or 2 of the other commissioners at the FCC step up and side with Adelstein because right now he's the only one asking for an investigation. Knowing the FCC's track record of late though I'm not counting on it. I'm surprised Bush hasn't nominated Lowry Mays to take Powell's vacated seat.
 
> http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050725/music_probe.html?.v=11
>
> My questions are:
>
> What happens to the stations, stations managers, and PD's
> that took the Payola?
>
> Which stations, station managers, and PD's took payola
> locally?
>
> How much better will radio get once they stop forcing this
> mass produced bubble gum pop rock on us?
>
If you go through all the documentation it looks like the only ones in Texas who may have drity hands are the folks at Clear Channel's KXXM in San Antonio. And how ironic being the hometown of CC.
 
> If you go through all the documentation it looks like the
> only ones in Texas who may have drity hands are the folks at
> Clear Channel's KXXM in San Antonio. And how ironic being
> the hometown of CC.
>


Actually, if you go through all the documentation, it looks like the only ones DOCUMENTED as having dirty hands are KXXM...

We all know that there are two truths: There is the truth, and then there is the truth that you can prove. I have a feeling that there are some hands in Market #5 that were just as dirty. I have no proof, just a gut feeling.<P ID="signature">______________
GIT/MC$ d- s: a C++++$ U*++++$ P+ L++ E--- W+++$ N o K w O- M++$ V-- PS PE+ Y+ PGP !t !5 X++ R+ tv+ b++ DI++++ D++ G e* h--- r+++ y+++</P>
 
> > If you go through all the documentation it looks like the
> > only ones in Texas who may have drity hands are the folks
> at
> > Clear Channel's KXXM in San Antonio. And how ironic being
>
> > the hometown of CC.
> >
>
>
> Actually, if you go through all the documentation, it looks
> like the only ones DOCUMENTED as having dirty hands are
> KXXM...
>
> We all know that there are two truths: There is the truth,
> and then there is the truth that you can prove. I have a
> feeling that there are some hands in Market #5 that were
> just as dirty. I have no proof, just a gut feeling.
>

Oh, ABSOLUTELY...I posted an article on here long ago that implicated Radio One for doing the exact same thing, but the FCC did nothing whatsoever about it. Thank God there's a precedent now. I say bring 'em ALL down. And another practice going on is record labels buying up blocks of time on country stations overnight to basically play an infomercial of the label's newest songs, without making it clear that it's an infomercial (required by law) and getting credit on Billboard for number of plays...thus driving up the "value" of their own songs for a price. That needs to be addressed, too.
 
Just another example of how out of touch the record companies are.
Most are still operating on a business model created in the 1950's.
Little has really changed, but what would you expect from an industry that
plans for a 90% failure rate. Remember all the stacks of CD's (or 45's if you go back that far) that would be on the Music Directors desk every Monday? Think of how many ultimately ended up in the garbage. For every one of them in the trash, a significant amount of money has been spent launching that record.
When no one adds it, and no one buys it, that money is unrecoverable. When you think about it, that's a poor way to market a product.

No wonder record reps, under enormous pressure sometimes, resort to unethical methods to get the often young, impressioinable Music Directors to "help them out".

The record business needs to remodel their entire way of doing business. They are so out of touch it is incredible!

Think of how far they missed the whole MP3 file sharing arrangement. They are all scrambling now to incorporate it into the business plan, but are far too late. Millions and millions of downloads later, the damage is done, and much of it unrecoverable.

It really is interesting when you think of the whole thing. Do sales influence radio to add a song or does radio influence sales.

It's a debate that's been going on since the 50's!
 
Not in any way saying the practice is moral, but you have to also look at what management has to deal with since dereg. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO promotions money to speak of..."THE MAN" wants ratings, but he/she does not want to ante up the budget for marketing/promotions/giveaways...so, the PD is left looking for a way...ANY way to get something going...and that is where your indies come into play....and don't even think this is going on at just a few stations....it happens everywhere..is commonplace, actually. Also, it has been my experience that no one profits personally...the goods went directly to station promotions. I have only seen 2 Program Directors benefit personally...one was adding total crap and placing it in my show for a nice little check each month( he was fired when corporate found out) and the other is still PD....for now. I feel sure when his company is sold, new management will show him the door...if they have any good sense.




> http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/050725/music_probe.html?.v=11
>
> My questions are:
>
> What happens to the stations, stations managers, and PD's
> that took the Payola?
>
> Which stations, station managers, and PD's took payola
> locally?
>
> How much better will radio get once they stop forcing this
> mass produced bubble gum pop rock on us?
>
 
This is basically a microcosm of what goes on in our government everyday, and that maybe why it's hard for them to regulate behavior that they do themselves. I'm talking about lobbyists and soft money, payments for favors and 'doing a little turn' for somebody...for a price...whoever has the most money will be the one who benefits the most. Indie labels can't play on the same level field as the national ones. Talent and "art" have nothing whatsoever to do with this.

This argument always makes me think of Maurice Starr and his marketing inventions, "New Kids on the Block" and "The New Edition," groups put together ONLY for marketability, with no regard for talent. God only knows what he and his labels paid to make those kiddoes popular.

> Just another example of how out of touch the record
> companies are.
> Most are still operating on a business model created in the
> 1950's.
> Little has really changed, but what would you expect from an
> industry that
> plans for a 90% failure rate. Remember all the stacks of
> CD's (or 45's if you go back that far) that would be on the
> Music Directors desk every Monday? Think of how many
> ultimately ended up in the garbage. For every one of them
> in the trash, a significant amount of money has been spent
> launching that record.
> When no one adds it, and no one buys it, that money is
> unrecoverable. When you think about it, that's a poor way
> to market a product.
>
> No wonder record reps, under enormous pressure sometimes,
> resort to unethical methods to get the often young,
> impressioinable Music Directors to "help them out".
>
> The record business needs to remodel their entire way of
> doing business. They are so out of touch it is incredible!
>
>
> Think of how far they missed the whole MP3 file sharing
> arrangement. They are all scrambling now to incorporate it
> into the business plan, but are far too late. Millions and
> millions of downloads later, the damage is done, and much of
> it unrecoverable.
>
> It really is interesting when you think of the whole thing.
> Do sales influence radio to add a song or does radio
> influence sales.
>
> It's a debate that's been going on since the 50's!
>
 
>
> ...and that is where your indies come into play...
>

Uh... perhaps I misunderstood your point, but this was no "indie" label, this was SONY. Big label. Big money.

>
> ...and don't even think this is going on at just a few
> stations....it happens everywhere..is commonplace, actually.
>

Yes, and is one of the major problems with music radio. Anyone taking payola should be fired. Period.

>
> Also, it has been my experience that no one profits personally...
>

Hmmm... You must not have that much experience, then...<P ID="signature">______________
GIT/MC$ d- s: a C++++$ U*++++$ P+ L++ E--- W+++$ N o K w O- M++$ V-- PS PE+ Y+ PGP !t !5 X++ R+ tv+ b++ DI++++ D++ G e* h--- r+++ y+++</P>
 
> Also, it has been my experience that no one profits
> personally...the goods went directly to station promotions.

So, what, they hand out those little baggies of coke at station events? hee hee. I've seen many a prize closet, but never anything inside that's valuable enough to make someone risk being tagged with a payola charge.

I posted an article on here a while back from Radio World (I still have it somewhere) that explains the process from a PD's standpoint...he spoke of record promoters making jocks' car payments for the month in exchange for airplay. The way these folks have gotten around the payola laws is by using the record promoter as the middleman...perhaps hired as an independent contractor by the label so the label wouldn't be directly responsible for the promoter's actions.

Ah, and don't think sales depts are exempt from this very same thing. I've heard MANY stories over the years about kickbacks for clients...usually travel-related, like tickets, new luggage, etc...in exchange for a company's business. One friend told me that it's customary to work a deal where you overbill a company for advertising, and kick back the overage to the marketing person at the company as an enticement to get their business.

Silly me, I'm from that old school thought process of "one person, one vote." Perhaps if I'm rich one day, and have an agenda, I'll see things differently.
 
The article "you" posted talked about indies...a way the big labels get around the law....as far as the practice not being allowed..I totally agree...My point is that the way big radio works these days,in that those actually "doing" the work are expected to spin gold from straw and THAT is not fair. Luckily, the PD's I have seen except for the 2 I mentioned earlier, do not add bad songs for the sake of a deal..a few more spins, yes.Lastly, as far as my experience, I have been lucky in the last 15 years to have worked with decent people. It has nothing to do with years on the job. Unlike many, I have not had to jump from market to market each year in search of work..so if that means I am not experienced in the way you mean it....so be it.


> >
> > ...and that is where your indies come into play...
> >
>
> Uh... perhaps I misunderstood your point, but this was no
> "indie" label, this was SONY. Big label. Big money.
>
> >
> > ...and don't even think this is going on at just a few
> > stations....it happens everywhere..is commonplace,
> actually.
> >
>
> Yes, and is one of the major problems with music radio.
> Anyone taking payola should be fired. Period.
>
> >
> > Also, it has been my experience that no one profits
> personally...
> >
>
> Hmmm... You must not have that much experience, then...
>
 
Braindead made a good point.Ayear ago Reba Mcintire's song "somebody" was played in blocks of paid time by her label on several country stations and some light rock. It manipulated the Billboard charts until someone noticed and made a protest. The label did not apologize or regret their action stating " it was standard good business to promote"."Standard"perhaps, "Good"(?) certainly not.Then the stories flooded soon after of indie promoters acting on behalf of major labels to obtain station airplay. Radio one admitted it assisting the indies, then some other broadcast groups did as , afterwards the yall denounced and saidthey would not do it again. CC by the way was the last to admit using them and supposedly ending the relationship. Doesit still go on? You decide.
 
> Braindead made a good point.Ayear ago Reba Mcintire's song
> "somebody" was played in blocks of paid time by her label on
> several country stations and some light rock. It manipulated
> the Billboard charts until someone noticed and made a
> protest. The label did not apologize or regret their action
> stating " it was standard good business to
> promote"."Standard"perhaps, "Good"(?) certainly not.Then the
> stories flooded soon after of indie promoters acting on
> behalf of major labels to obtain station airplay. Radio one
> admitted it assisting the indies, then some other broadcast
> groups did as , afterwards the yall denounced and saidthey
> would not do it again. CC by the way was the last to admit
> using them and supposedly ending the relationship. Doesit
> still go on? You decide.

Some music on the charts is the best money can buy.
>
 
> > Braindead made a good point.Ayear ago Reba Mcintire's song
>
> > "somebody" was played in blocks of paid time by her label
> on
> > several country stations and some light rock. It
> manipulated
> > the Billboard charts until someone noticed and made a
> > protest. The label did not apologize or regret their
> action
> > stating " it was standard good business to
> > promote"."Standard"perhaps, "Good"(?) certainly not.Then
> the
> > stories flooded soon after of indie promoters acting on
> > behalf of major labels to obtain station airplay. Radio
> one
> > admitted it assisting the indies, then some other
> broadcast
> > groups did as , afterwards the yall denounced and saidthey
>
> > would not do it again. CC by the way was the last to admit
>
> > using them and supposedly ending the relationship. Doesit
> > still go on? You decide.
>
> Some music on the charts is the best money can buy.
> >
>
I would say im surprised about this revelation, but im not. I hope this, however shakes some cages in congress and makes sure companies like these get prosecuted.
 
> I would say im surprised about this revelation, but im not.
> I hope this, however shakes some cages in congress and makes
> sure companies like these get prosecuted.

They won't because the politicians have as much to lose (in funding) as the radio companies do. My guess is Lowry's already placing a few select phone calls right now.
 
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