Payola in the Music Industry: A History, 1880-1991 [Hardcover]

Kerry Segrave (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994 | ISBN-10: 0899508820 | ISBN-13: 978-0899508825

Payola is as old as the music industry and continues today. Contrary to popular belief, the acceptance of payola is legal. (Only the nonreporting of it would be illegal.) The recipients of payola and the reasons behind it are discussed decade-by-decade. The early bribes to the minstrel groups and vaudeville players are traced, as are modern-day payments to disc jockeys and radio station program directors, where drugs are often given instead of cash. Particular attention is paid to 1959 and 1960 when federal investigators attempted to eradicate the practice.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

"Payola is simply another word for bribery," claims Segrave, while pointing out that few songs are performed in public or receive air time and that fewer still become hits. Thus, it becomes a grave necessity for promoters to grease the skids. This book, by the author of Drive-In Theaters: A History from Their Inception in 1933 ( LJ 1/93), traces the history of payola, its development, the attempts at regulating and legislating it, and its practitioners. Notes are divided by chapter, and the index lists songs, people, organizations, and more. Much of the information here is derived from newspapers and magazines like Variety . The result, however, is not a rehash but a well-documented account that should interest a wide range of readers. Highly recommended for music collections.
- Ina M. Wise, Daley Community Coll. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"a wealth of fascinating material...the only in-depth study of the subject...excellent" -- Choice

"a well-documented account that should interest a wide range of readers" -- Library Journal

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Mcfarland & Co Inc Pub (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899508820
• ISBN-13: 978-0899508825
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #374,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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