Labels Find New Method of Payola

rhadamanthus writes "The Houston Chronicle is reporting on the newest 'legal' payola tactic put forth by the record industry: playing the song as an advertisement. It seems that while it is illegal to pay a radio station to play a song, it is not illegal to play a song as an ad. Quoth the article, 'The practice is legal as long as the station makes an on-air disclosure of the label's sponsorship -- typically with an introduction such as "And now, Avril Lavigne's Don't Tell Me, presented by Arista Records."' Incidentally, that song was played 109 times in one week by Nashville station WQZQ-FM."

Comments

It's free isn't it?

[RapmasterT]

People who complain about the quality of a free service amuse me. I mean that in the most condescending way possible.

The radio is great for meditating

[nizo]

I simply turn it to a space between stations and listen to static. If I actually want music, I get out the ol' mp3 player with music ripped from CDs I purchased used. No commercials, no music I hate, and I am not feeding the corporate monsters. Sadly I am not feeding the artists either, but for them to eat well the corporate monsters must die first. Why the artists haven't banded together to form a non-profit label I have no idea.

Re:This is bad because why ?

[simetra]

Who says every po-dunk fruitstand in the nation is required by law to have choice in regards to radio stations? If they don't like it, they can move to a larger market, or watch tv, or go boink their sister.