Prov.: Oldies 790; WPRO AM simulcast on 99.7

[Alan Tolz]

I understand your point David, but independent promotion is not payola.  As 
long as there is no direct correlation between a promotional item, and the 
airing of a song specific to that promotional item WITHOUT sponsor 
identificaiton, there is no payola.  Stations that accepted fly-aways and/or 
concert tickets, or for that matter cash from labels, either directly or 
through independent promoters but chose all of their music based on merit 
without regard to the label or artist were not violating any FCC statutes. 
But corporations like Citadel and Entercom, who ultimately paid millions 
while admitting no wrong doing was the result of a witch hunt by Eliott 
Spitzer as a calculated move to put himself in a high profile position to 
run for Governor.  Evidently, the strategy worked, but his character shone 
through and so, goodbye to him (hopefully) and good riddance.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Tomm" <nostaticatall@charter.net>
To: "Alan Tolz" <atolz@comcast.net>
Cc: "Dan.Strassberg" <dan.strassberg@att.net>; "Kevin Vahey" 
<kvahey@comcast.net>; "Bob Nelson" <raccoonradio@mail.com>; "(newsgroup) 
Boston-Radio-Interest" <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2008 4:32 PM
Subject: Re: Prov.: Oldies 790; WPRO AM simulcast on 99.7


>I completely disagree here.  I don't condone what Spitzer did and if  it's 
>true he needs to resign as governor, but he was absolutely  correct in 
>going after the labels, promoters and station owners for  payola 
>violations.  It was rampant in the industry, particularly on  current based 
>music stations,  and their activities violated the  law.   I find it 
>laughable that these same record labels that  funneled millions of dollars 
>to the corporate chains through money  launderers.....um, I mean 
>"independent promoters" to manipulate  airplay just a few years ago are now 
>fighting for a performance  royalty from radio for playing (and thus 
>promoting) the same  product.  Hilarious!
>
> -Dave Tomm
> "Mike Thomas"
>
>
> On Mar 11, 2008, at 10:33 AM, Alan Tolz wrote:
>
>> Elliot Spitzer's next gig hopefully will NOT be on radio.  As a 
>> broadcast operator, I wouldn't pay one cent to a person who, as a 
>> publicity hound AG used radio as a high profile industry and  brought 
>> down the earthshakingly important independant promotion  business with 
>> his bullying and heavyhanded tactics.  Couldn't  happen to a nicer guy...
>>
>