87 Pages Of Damaging Emails From NY’s UMG Payola Probe
Earlier today we reported on Universal Music’s $12 million settlement of the NY state payola probe. Now we’ve got our hands on 87 pages of emails and letters from the Attorney General’s office that were part of the investigation. The documents are both sad and amusing . Some of the names have been blacked out and others are clear, but most appear to reflect a pattern of pay (or trade) for airplay.
"(WPXY) called to request __________ for his June 2nd show….He will move the record to 4 spins a day…it will cost us approximately 6 to 7k."
"WHHT/Syracuse should be no problem. 11 spins already..Might need help with an invoice…"
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Some of the items seem really border line legal. The ones where they are like “staff member or contest winner may take a trip…”. Seems ok to me.
Is this really important in the big picture? With the lack of rotation in playlists and the vast numbers of alternatives online, isnt this another step towards irrelavence for ‘traditional” radio?