Payola settlement cites 3 valley stations
Nov 27, 2005 19:17:41 GMT -5
Post by musicradio77 on Nov 27, 2005 19:17:41 GMT -5
Three local radio stations and three of their employees were mentioned Tuesday in a $5 million pay-for-play settlement that Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced between his office and the Warner Music Group Corp.
WSPK (104.7 FM), based in Fishkill, WRRV (92.7 FM) and WPKF (96.1 FM), both based in Poughkeepsie, were mentioned in the announcement, the latest development in Spitzer's ongoing probe of pay-for-play, or payola, in the music industry. Also mentioned in the settlement were Andrew Boris, program director for WRRV, Gary Cee, program director at Poughkeepsie-based WPDH (101.5), and Jimmi Jamm of WPKF.
In the settlement, Spitzer said Warner Music employees admitted providing radio stations with trips to see bands, concert tickets, computers, gift certificates, iPods and other items. The settlement refers specifically to "(Mode's Sports gift certificates)" as an item given by Warner to radio stations. A separate e-mail released as part of the settlement refers to "$300 Mode's Sports Gift Certificates for WSPK," related to musician Josh Groban.
Chuck Benfer, market manager in Poughkeepsie for Atlanta-based Cumulus Media, which owns both WRRV and WPDH, said Cumulus headquarters was contacted within the last six weeks by Spitzer's office. Spitzer issued a subpoena to the company for e-mail correspondence between Cum-ulus stations that can reach listeners in New York City and record companies and promotion companies.
Benfer said Spitzer also asked Cumulus to search e-mail databases for any correspondence that might have included the word "promotion" or "promoter."
"We cooperated with them completely," Benfer said.
Pay-for-play, or payola, can take the form of cash bribes or promotional support, like giveaways. Payola is illegal when not disclosed to listeners. Spitzer, who is running for governor, announced in July a $10 million payola settlement with Sony BMG Records that said Woodstock-based WDST (100.1 FM) accepted payment from an independent promoter to play certain songs.
A spokeswoman for Spitzer said Tuesday the investigation is ongoing. The Federal Communications Commission has also launched its own investigation.
In a document released Tuesday by Spitzer, Cee's name appears next to the date "5/18/03" and the name of the station he worked for prior to WPDH, WLIR on Long Island. The document also says "$140.67." Benfer said Cee was not employed by WLIR on May 18, 2003, and started working at WPDH that summer. Reached at the station Tuesday, Cee declined comment.
In an e-mail labeled "(Atlantic)," released Tuesday by Spitzer and dated July 22, 2003, Boris' name appears next to the date, "2/11/03," the amount, "$35.26" and the words, "RFTC Show" and "donnas." "The Donnas" is an all female band. Boris could not be reached for comment. Atlantic Records is part of the Warner Music Group.
Also mentioned in that e-mail is "Jimi Jamm" and "WPKF" along with the words, "Book Promo," "$151.45," "L'il Kim" and "Atlantic." A spokesperson for Clear Channel, which owns WPKF, could not be reached.
WSPK, known as K-104, is mentioned in the same e-mail along with the word, "Carmine's," the date, "2/7/03," the amount "$679.98" and the words, "staff dinner." Also appearing in that e-mail is the phrase, "Tickets $200 Concert Connection WSPK Poughkeepsie Jewel." Jewel is a popular female musician.
WSPK is also linked in the settlement to a L'il Kim concert that took place at The Chance on June 24, 2003 — a line reads, "6/24/03, K-104/ChanceTix, L'il Kim $300."
WSPK (104.7 FM), based in Fishkill, WRRV (92.7 FM) and WPKF (96.1 FM), both based in Poughkeepsie, were mentioned in the announcement, the latest development in Spitzer's ongoing probe of pay-for-play, or payola, in the music industry. Also mentioned in the settlement were Andrew Boris, program director for WRRV, Gary Cee, program director at Poughkeepsie-based WPDH (101.5), and Jimmi Jamm of WPKF.
In the settlement, Spitzer said Warner Music employees admitted providing radio stations with trips to see bands, concert tickets, computers, gift certificates, iPods and other items. The settlement refers specifically to "(Mode's Sports gift certificates)" as an item given by Warner to radio stations. A separate e-mail released as part of the settlement refers to "$300 Mode's Sports Gift Certificates for WSPK," related to musician Josh Groban.
Chuck Benfer, market manager in Poughkeepsie for Atlanta-based Cumulus Media, which owns both WRRV and WPDH, said Cumulus headquarters was contacted within the last six weeks by Spitzer's office. Spitzer issued a subpoena to the company for e-mail correspondence between Cum-ulus stations that can reach listeners in New York City and record companies and promotion companies.
Benfer said Spitzer also asked Cumulus to search e-mail databases for any correspondence that might have included the word "promotion" or "promoter."
"We cooperated with them completely," Benfer said.
Pay-for-play, or payola, can take the form of cash bribes or promotional support, like giveaways. Payola is illegal when not disclosed to listeners. Spitzer, who is running for governor, announced in July a $10 million payola settlement with Sony BMG Records that said Woodstock-based WDST (100.1 FM) accepted payment from an independent promoter to play certain songs.
A spokeswoman for Spitzer said Tuesday the investigation is ongoing. The Federal Communications Commission has also launched its own investigation.
In a document released Tuesday by Spitzer, Cee's name appears next to the date "5/18/03" and the name of the station he worked for prior to WPDH, WLIR on Long Island. The document also says "$140.67." Benfer said Cee was not employed by WLIR on May 18, 2003, and started working at WPDH that summer. Reached at the station Tuesday, Cee declined comment.
In an e-mail labeled "(Atlantic)," released Tuesday by Spitzer and dated July 22, 2003, Boris' name appears next to the date, "2/11/03," the amount, "$35.26" and the words, "RFTC Show" and "donnas." "The Donnas" is an all female band. Boris could not be reached for comment. Atlantic Records is part of the Warner Music Group.
Also mentioned in that e-mail is "Jimi Jamm" and "WPKF" along with the words, "Book Promo," "$151.45," "L'il Kim" and "Atlantic." A spokesperson for Clear Channel, which owns WPKF, could not be reached.
WSPK, known as K-104, is mentioned in the same e-mail along with the word, "Carmine's," the date, "2/7/03," the amount "$679.98" and the words, "staff dinner." Also appearing in that e-mail is the phrase, "Tickets $200 Concert Connection WSPK Poughkeepsie Jewel." Jewel is a popular female musician.
WSPK is also linked in the settlement to a L'il Kim concert that took place at The Chance on June 24, 2003 — a line reads, "6/24/03, K-104/ChanceTix, L'il Kim $300."