When WBZ played covers instead of hits

[Roger Kirk]

Donna Halper wrote:
> A number 
> of the disc jockeys had close relationships with record promoters, and 
> while I would like to say that such friendships never influenced what 
> got played, the evidence says they did.  I know from talking to various 
> people (as well as from my own observations when I became a college 
> music director and met some of the local record promoters) that even in 
> the 60s, despite the big payola scandals of the late 50s, the influence 
> of certain promo men (and nearly all of them were guys, back then) 
> continued to occur, although in more subtle ways.  And yes, a d.j. might 
> play a version of a song just because a particular promoter was working 
> that record and "really needed an ad this week".  That's also how a lot 
> of "local hits" happened-- in some cases, yes the jock or the PD loved 
> the song and wanted to play it, but in other cases, a record promoter's 
> ties to the song or the artist, and the resulting benefits that accrued 
> to the announcer who then gave the song some attention, were key factors 
> in how decisions were made.

Interesting, because both the Jordan Brothers and the Changing Times 
were on Philips Records.  Perhaps their Portland Rep was more aggressive 
up front.