Slashdot Mirror
Shocked, Shocked at Payola
"It costs a record company about $250,000 just to launch a single on rock radio today. That doesn't guarantee success; it just gives the single access to the airwaves. If the song catches on and eventually crosses over to the mainstream Top-40 format, indie costs balloon to more than $1 million per song." Salon.com has a pair of articles on payola today: one on
the widening scandal
and one specifically on
a curious Clear Channel case. For context, here's
our latest payola story,
or if you want the background on why the labels hate the promoters but can't shake the habit,
my writeup from a year ago.
(If you want some beach reading on this topic, go check out
"Hit Men.")
What is this "beach" you speak of? It sounds suspiciously like something that involves "fresh air" and "natural light".
"More organs means more human." - Zim
I'd launch a single for them for $1000. My only over head would be the disc, the duct tape, and the Estes Rocket.
In another shocking story, the *sun rose in the east* this morning....
In Soviet Russia, Chuck Norris will still kick your ass.
Hilarious. Payola used to at least buy you a hit. Now all it does is get your foot in the door. For a quarter-mil you buy the chance to have a hit. At least Alan Freed gave you an honest hit for your money.
Their annual reports [sony.co.jp] are online, so you can check this stuff too
OK, I looked. Where was the $1B line item for "piracy losses"? I know it has to be there, because they keep telling us that they're losing billions to piracy!
Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
Did you subconsciously read the dept. line, or is this a case of great fans thinking alike? :)