Rádios reconhecem o «payola»

«As Radio Inktold you in a Thursday bulletin, CBS Radio has reached a settlement with New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer in which the company admits that some of its radio stations accepted payola from record labels.

"Certain stations owned by CBS Radio have practiced deception against their listeners," the company said in a statement signed by both Spitzer and CBS Corporation Executive Vice President and General Counsel Louis Briskman.

The statement cited the company’s Rochester, NY stations in particular, saying staff there "openly traded airplay for revenue," and solicited benefits, such as contest prizes and payment of invoices, from labels in return for airplay.

"The sale of a station’s valuable air time to the highest bidder violates state and federal laws and robs consumers of their right to know why the songs they hear on the radio are being broadcast," Spitzer said. "Our settlement with CBS Radio represents a significant milestone in our effort to reform the music industry for the benefit of the listening public."

CBS Radio will also make a $2 million payment, which will be distributed through the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, to New York State not-for-profit entities to fund music education and appreciation programs.

fonte: Radio Ink, «CBS Radio Settles Payola Lawsuit», 21/10/06