How many artists are involved in payola schemes

[3970]

Is it a lot? Do many artists pay a radio station to get them to play their songs? I mean here's why I ask.

1. a deejay at my pop station said Clear Channel only played BIG hits, and the not so big hits they didn't play until they "caught on" Like, they wouldn't play Ben Jelen's song Come On because they said it wasn't a big enough hit to play.

BUT----that same station will play some completely random unknown song by a foreign band or act that nobody's hear of before and play it to the death, and usually the song sucks and nobody likes it. But they play it anyway. Know what I mean?

[3970]

Right now they are totally obsessed with playing Slide Along by Shifty. (is that the name?) No other stations play it but KISS. I personally can't stand that song, neither can my co workers but whatever. They keep playing it, like 5 times a day.

[KikiMets]

According to a Billboard article, the following songs are among those that benefited from programs in which labels buy overnight ad time and use it to play songs:

Don't Tell Me-Avril Lavigne
Hey Mama-Black Eyed Peas
Where Are We Runnin'?-Lenny Kravitz
I Miss You-blink-182
Echo-Trapt
I'm Ready-Cherie
If I Ain't Got You-Alicia Keys

[3970]

Oops, I just went back a page and found a bunch of posts about that. (shoulda checked first) Thanks for the info.