Prov.: Oldies 790; WPRO AM simulcast on 99.7

[atolz@comcast.net]

That's a fair and reasonable assessment of the situation.  Those nighttime shows, like "news" at 11 or new at 2 (AM) were obviously created for the purpose of generating revenue from record companies.  Kind of like the music stations' version of "spackle and paste" infomercials (if you've been following the trevails of Moe Lauzier and WRKO).   That game you're detailing was done by "reporters", stations that reported spins of specific records when Radio and Records meant something.  Those days are gone forever, not only because of Spitzer's antics, but because the record industry is in such turmoil and decline that they don't know whether to work with radio or bite radio's nose off, in the form of a 'performance royalty'.  I can tell you that IF there is ultimately a performance royalty in radio, look for more news/talk/sports and Spanish on the FM band.  Also look for stations to charge labels and sponsor ID hours like the "Universal hour", or look for big radio (CCU, CXR, !
 CBS, RO
IA) to go directly to artists to get them to waive any fees payable to Sound Exchange or their records will no loner be played.  A great PD once said, "You never get hurt by a song that you don't play".  But it will be terrible...and a shame.

Alan   

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: David Tomm <nostaticatall@charter.net> 

> On paper, independent promotion is not payola, but that's how it was 
> in practice with a LOT of companies. Stations added records based 
> on "promotional consideration" only, not on merit. Most if not all 
> spins got buried in the overnights or fringe weekend hours to up spin 
> counts on stations that never played the track during the day. This 
> made a record look like it was getting significant play when it 
> really wasn't. Some songs would get played eight or nine times 
> between midnight and 5am and that's it. It was VERY common and was 
> NOT based on merit. Citadel and Entercom even developed 
> "programming" to showcase these multiple spins. Stations would have 
> never done this if they weren't getting something in return. That 
> amounts to payola, no matter how you slice it. I work in the industry 
> and saw it happen firsthand, both at the local radio and network end. 
> 
> Do I think there are independent promoters that are legitimately 
> trying to introduce artists and songs to radio? Sure. However, 
> that's not what Spitzer was going after. His investigation resulted 
> in the big corporate chains severing ties with most independent 
> promoters 
> even the legit ones. That was unfortunate, but the abuses of a few 
> major promoters in allowing the labels to funnel millions of dollars 
> through them to the big radio groups in exchange for airplay ruined 
> the party for everyone. That's not Spizer's fault. He simply 
> stopped the gravy train which is why radio and record people are 
> basking in the glow of Spitzer's downfall. 
> 
> -Dave Tomm 
> "Mike Thomas" 
> 
> On Mar 11, 2008, at 4:56 PM, Alan Tolz wrote: 
> 
> > 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" 
> > 
> > To: "Alan Tolz" 
> > Cc: "Dan.Strassberg" ; "Kevin Vahey" 
> > ; "Bob Nelson" ; 
> > "(newsgroup) Boston-Radio-Interest" > > 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... 
> >>> 
> > 
> > 
>