payola blues

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Interesting report on NPR this morning that the FCC is opening a new payola investigation:

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1622096

One allegation is that Clear Channel gets artists to perform free promotional gigs at CC-owned venues in return for airplay. Any idea as to which artists might be involved?

At the conclusion, the report alleges that Carly Simon's 1980 song "Jesse" was a flop, despite being "one of the most heavily-promoted records ever." Is this true? What are the records whose success can only be explained by payola?

― briania, Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:14 (twenty-two years ago)

none, payola will get you in the door but you can't buy a hit, you can only buy the possibility.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:31 (twenty-two years ago)

but if you could buy a hit: lenny kravitz - "fly away" (LOTTA axle grease)

― cinniblount (James Blount), Thursday, 29 January 2004 03:33 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Jesse wasn't a hit, really? I certainly remember it distinctly.

― carl w (carl w), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

I've always thought that Maroon 5's "And She Will Be Loved" was only a hit because of payola... I don't see any redeeming qualities in that song at all...

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Tuesday, 9 August 2005 21:21 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.