Radio programmer fired over gifts from music execs

[Judi Lynn]

January 13, 2005

Radio programmer fired over gifts from music execs


BUFFALO, N.Y. A Buffalo radio station programmer has been fired for breaking the station's rules against taking valuable gifts from business contacts.

The firing of Dave Universal from Entercom Communication-owned W-K-S-E F-M comes amid increasing scrutiny of the relationship between the recording industry and the broadcasters who play their songs.

The New York Times reported Universal was accused of taking a trip to Miami that was paid for by a record label and attending sporting events arranged by music executives.

Entercom Buffalo general manager Greg Ried tells The Associated Press that Universal's actions violated the company's conflict of interest policy.
(snip/...)

http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=2802886

[htuttle]

1. Payola is still illegal

Unless you are paid by the White House.

[bullimiami]

3. interesting thought

is payola only for musical content or does it include buying radio commentary for cash?

depending how they wrote the laws Bushco could be guilty of payola in the Armstrong deal, and Im sure its not an isolated case.

[htuttle]

4. The letter of the law speaks of 'broadcasters' and 'broadcasts'

It's not specific to music broadcasts, but I'm not sure it's ever been used in any other situation.

[Feathered Fish]

2. Just one station?

Ha! There needs to be some real investigations into payola cases. It's utterly ridiculous, I have even heard about it happening at college radio stations for crissakes.

[chenGOD]

5. Payola is so widespread in the radio industry it would be

virually impossible to stop it.

[Cronus Protagonist]

6. It wouldn't be impossible - there's just no incentive

As you know, payola is at the heart of the radio "industry", and that means radion stations get the cash, and that means the biggest ones get the most money... who do they donate to?

Yup.




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