Hot Topic: Is Payola A Necessary Evil?

For R&B acts, the road to commercial glory can oft be a tedious and impossible journey.

Truth be told, while Hip Hop purveyors can be sure to receive the full support of Urban radio upon the release of new material, the only R&B acts that can be guaranteed potent airplay on Top 40 and Urban formats today are the ladies pictured above- and the Rap firework that is Nicki Minaj. 

In turn, now armed with audience impressions in the millions and the ear of the public in their arsenal, this trio stand as the only ‘Urban belles‘ who can be expected to shift major numbers on both a singles and album front.

On the other end of the scales comes R&B’s far less renowned acts, depending solely on Urban formats, digital press and television appearances to aid their releases…forcing the genre to the bottom of the totem pole led by Country and the aforementioned Hip Hop.

More below…

Billed as the ‘illegal practice of payment by record companies for the broadcast of recordings on music radio’, payola sees a label pay an outlet to spin a cut (or cuts) of their choice with the intention of using that outlet to reach as wide of an audience as possible.

Problematic, as it’s inherently unfair to labels who opt not to employ this method with their artist, or who simply can’t afford to.

However, speaking hypothetically, do you feel record labels would score more from R&B releases, if those releases were ‘pushed’ to compliant Pop outlets.

The kind of outlets, that boast around 4 million listeners a week and who’d give music lovers no choice but to pay attention to what the genre has to offer.

Weigh in below!

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  1. Ballsy July 5, 2013

    It worked in DC day’s but not so well today. There are other factors social media and online streaming is taking over radio now!

    • Ballsy July 5, 2013

      Also look at my 2 favs. They look like big and little sis. both beautiful in their own unique way

    • steph July 5, 2013

      EVERYONE USED PAYOLA!!

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        I see Payola for some being used to the Max and Struggle City for Others.

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      • XX July 5, 2013

        i am sick of you and Emily.

    • Samantha October 29, 2017

      DC didn’t do payola. Acts like Mariah & Jessica Simpson were favored over DC. Somebody said Beyoncé won’t get played on pop radio again. You noticed that happened after Kanye dared say on a huge stage her work was better than a white woman’s, Taylor Swift. So, it’s racism as usual. Taylor Swift does payola that was Look At What Made You Do dropped real quick after a few weeks. It seems that it’s also coinciding with people being tired of her victim act, too.

  2. Yaz July 5, 2013

    Everyone uses payola so it must be.

    • Ariana’sGrand July 5, 2013

      Speak for yourself.

  3. JJFan1814 July 5, 2013

    Payola isn’t necessary if your music is on point. Just asked Adele who managed to slay all the pop girls single releases/discography with just 1 album.

    Bottom line up front: If people like your music. They will request it. They will buy it.

    • QueenOfTheNavy July 5, 2013

      Erm, Adele is the queen of payola.

      • JJFan1814 July 5, 2013

        Don’t try it because she managed to be successful with soul music backed by real instruments instead of generic recycled beats.

    • QueenOfTheNavy July 5, 2013

      Janet used payola for Feedback so that’s probably why you mad.

      • truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

        no she didn’t u lyn B****!!! but i wish she had!! The song was EPIC honey!!!

    • NaviKissKiss July 5, 2013

      Tell that to Janet when her new single flops like Triumphlop.

      • truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

        or like the flop yo momma pushed out her sour p****…YOU!!!! NOW COME FOR JANET A-MUTHAFUCKN-GAIN!!!!!

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        So you all feel that Alicia Key used Payola to get her 14 Grammy?
        Well if that be the case then what is the Answer for artis twho songs/albums sold good and topped the charts all over the Country and still did not win anything nor get a Grammy.

  4. Ms92 July 5, 2013

    The real question though… Is this post necessary?

    • BarbzRUs July 5, 2013

      Necessary enough for you to comment.

      • XX July 5, 2013

        I never heard of it before

  5. rita WHORA even copied ALL RIH’S TATTOOS July 5, 2013

    You’re just jealous that beyonce will NEVER EVER GET played on pop radio again and rih owns pop radio. Same with rita whora, who will never get airplay in our country, the usa. Like I said Rita will be dropped. Where is her new s***? She is too busy partying in Ibiza with calvin harris, at this stage Rih had dropped SOS – even AGLM had dropped at this same stage. Rita Whora is even pretending to cut an LP.

    What happened to that song she done with snoop? PURE FLOP AND LAZY AS WELL.

    • BeyWhoUWanna July 5, 2013

      Oh please. We know Rihanna pays to be played because CFKB and MD flopped when she didn’t do it for them.

    • TeenageDreamer July 5, 2013

      ‘Beyonce will never get played on pop radio again’.
      I stopped reading after that part.

      • exactly July 5, 2013

        As did I. What world are these people living in? And as a matter of fact Rihanna is signed to RocNation. When Rihanna makes money so does Jay Z/ Bey. ” Back to work sweetie”

      • truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

        the REAL kii is ….yall read it!! honey i don’t read S*** this s*** post

  6. Savannah July 5, 2013

    Lol. Someone suggested this in the J. Cole post. Idk. Like someone said, a hot song is a hot song….but I guess it wouldn’t hurt?

  7. TaylorSwift1Stan July 5, 2013

    Mariah uses payola! Rihanna uses payola! Basic b******
    Those 18 #1s are all fake used payola!
    Real Queen is Taylor Swift Runs USA music! Runs the industry! Snatching every b****. From lessors like Rihanna to so called legends MC.
    My fave is the truth

    • Toto July 5, 2013

      Taylor swift can’t sing for s*** and her lyrics are dumb as hell. What is she on, her 24th boyfriend now? F****** trailer trash w****.

    • truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

      THAT W**** USED IT TOO…b****!!

    • MuiMui July 5, 2013

      Taylor Fan You need to worry about that church going after
      Taylor for bed hopping it made the top ten news on yahoo.

      • cocobutta July 6, 2013

        What you can SWIFTLY do is move your country bumpkin ass and take that boy hoppin h** comments to a site that actually gives 2shits about TayHO Swift.

        Her sales are large like that used up p****, so props to her.

  8. JJFan1814 July 5, 2013

    Sorry hun, Rih doesn’t need Payola. How else can you explain the success of Pour It Up & Loveeeeee Song when they weren’t released to radio and still had significant impact on the charts and with the audience?

    oh you tried though.

    • BitchyBey July 5, 2013

      You are a fool sister. Pour it up has BEEN getting played on urban because she’s BEEN paying for it.

    • Blackout2.0 July 5, 2013

      But those songs were released to radio last year. #BitchGetAClue

    • Yaz July 5, 2013

      LOOL delusion Rihanna uses payola the most these days. Pour it Up has ben played all over Urban radio due to payola.

    • HerNameIsSasha July 5, 2013

      Ha delusion is so real. Do you think people are randomly buying PIU by accident?

    • Alonzo July 5, 2013

      Pour it up stay on the radio..

  9. BionicGlam July 5, 2013

    Yes. Only because I want my fave to as many number ones as Mariah.

  10. Eek July 5, 2013

    I not a stan of neither Bey/Rhi, I hate the way you guys constantly go back and forth over them. What’s going to happen when that reign let up?

    • Ball So Hard July 5, 2013

      But… that Rihanna Reign just wont let up doe

    • North West Stan July 5, 2013

      They should be glad that their favs are relevant because there will come a time when no one will be checking for them.

  11. MusicFan July 5, 2013

    The only thing “true” about Taylor Swift is her inability to give a good live performance.

    • TaylorWins July 5, 2013

      Don’t forget the a million she sold first week dear. NOTHING counterfeit about those.

      • XX July 5, 2013

        Taylor does suck. The only song that had any real meaning for me is “Safe and Sound”. Everything else is pop trash. Her voice reminds me of those Kidz pop cd’s.

  12. SandySande July 5, 2013

    If you think Adele sold 25 mill because people loved good music you are naive and probably shouldn’t comment on music blogs.
    Adele used payola till the wheels came off. If good music all it took to slay why don’t India Arie or Norah Jones sell like they used to.

    • FAF July 5, 2013

      Agreed, tbh.

    • Common Sense July 5, 2013

      You grossly overestimate your intelligence. We don’t live in a radio ruled world, the fact that Billboard takes Youtube views as part of their formula is a testament of that.
      Word of mouth, hype, and a select few, but high profile, performances are what sent Adele’s album sales soaring.

  13. SummertimeSadness July 5, 2013

    If anybody needs payola its Brandy 2bh, her music is good but nobody listens.

    • MuiMui July 5, 2013

      I Can name many who desperately need Payola.

  14. DNNY July 5, 2013

    How’d you think Britney got this far?

    • KatyKitty July 5, 2013

      Siddown b****. Britney got to to the top because she snatched wigs and off stage. Like how dare you?

    • BeachHouseBritney July 5, 2013

      Please play in traffic.

    • ^AKA^ July 5, 2013

      Britney is not that successful on radio.

      Till the World Ends: 3,128.496
      Toxic: 2,758.221
      I Wanna Go: 2,696.289
      Womanizer: 2,587.061
      Circus: 2,351.592
      Baby, One More Time: 2,185.406
      3: 1,912.223
      Sometimes: 1,582.586
      Hold It Against Me:1,524.973
      If U Seek Amy: 1,279.208
      (You Drive Me) Crazy: 1,101.472
      Oops… I Didn’t Again: 1,189.859
      Everytime: 952.845
      Gimme More: 863.949
      I’m A S**** 4 U: 713.094
      Piece Of Me: 678.270
      Break the Ice: 627.186
      Lucky: 407.122
      Me Against the Music: 393.080
      Stronger: 311.042
      Radar: 231.064
      Criminal: 216.030
      Outrageous: 206.321
      From the Bottom of My Broken Heart: 171.999
      My Prerogative: 145.503
      Boys: 105.307
      Overprotected: 86.322
      Don’t Let Me Be The Last To Know: 42.082

      Even at her peak she didn’t have that much radio support. You chose a wrong person.

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        They know Britney has Diamond, in her arsenal.

  15. FentySoSnatched July 5, 2013

    I think Ciara is doing it just so she can beat Rihanna you know. She’s always been jealous of her, that’s why she tried to go pop with Fantasy Flop but flopped from here to Nebraska.

    • KingBey/QueenOnika July 5, 2013

      Ciara jealous of that rampant w****? Wonders never seize. Is that why she stalks her twitter and is always coming for her neck.

      • FAF July 5, 2013

        You MADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

        Fantasy Ride had a top ten WORLDWIDE with Lovesexmagic

        #noneneeded

        Goodies was an URBAN track.? Payola? Why was Beyonce & JLO, Mariah etc thriving then yet she still got a 6 week #1 ?

        What about 1,2 step at #2? or her other 5 top tens ? LMAOOOOOOO

      • FentySoSnatched July 5, 2013

        Rampant w****? Don’t make me ask you some questions about Beyonce’s history beu beu.

      • TurntUp4Cici July 5, 2013

        I know a Titanic crew member isn’t talking about hoetry when Rihanna’s legs have separated longer than the part in Wendy’s wig.

      • FAF July 5, 2013

        *waits for navi to talk about ciara f****** n***** theres no proof of*

        Ciara NEVER has left Ashton Kutcher house at 4am. *shrug*

        Every n**** u see her with she is in a COMMITTED relationship, not on – again off – again !

        #catch

        Bow wow – Engaged
        50 cent – dated over 2 yrs and PUBLICLY CLAIMED HER
        Amare – dated 3mos PUBLICLY CLAIMED HER
        Future – Got her f****** tattoo of a ‘c’ on his finger

        CIARA >>>>>>>>>>>

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        Rampant w**** i thought i had hear everything.
        Rihanna do keep people mad don’t she.

    • KingBey/QueenOnika July 5, 2013

      Do your worst.

  16. stephanie July 5, 2013

    I can see why it is deemed unethical; but I also understand why it is very necessary too.. Airplay is a strong motivator in increasing the sales of an album and/or single.

    In my opinion there are so many factors as to why RnB is suffering. Not all record labels want or have the funds to pay for “payola” In which case the artist has to promote harder to spread the word and rely on their core fan base to purchase their albums.

    RnB fans are fewer than most other genre’s and are divided into acts/favs they support.. If there was more UNITY we can keep the genre alive! You don’t even have to buy their albums [but it’s best too] however you can request their songs consistently on your local radio station! Every bit helps! Every time the song comes on air it guarantees more and more people will here it.

    Division is not the answer and will do more harm than good. Love the photo by the way! It celebrates two very strong women in music and UNITY!

    • stephanie July 5, 2013

      *hear it

    • MalikOnMyMind July 5, 2013

      Truth tea everywhere.

  17. LTM July 5, 2013

    Lol since when did payola=album sales?? Payola will get your music to the ears of millions but if it doesn’t appeal to people you’ll be left with just a radio hit. Everyone claiming that Adele used payola but she has the sales to back it up and so does Rihanna. Their singles are multi-platinum. So in the end its just about making music that the masses will enjoy. R&B wouldn’t benefit from payola unless its R&B music that appeals to many people.

    • BeyWhoUWanna July 5, 2013

      Excuse me fool, everybody knows that the more people that listen to your music means the more people that might be likely to buy your song.
      If you got 20 million impressions that means you’re better off at selling than someone who has only 1 million impressions cos less people hard the song.
      Seeing as you as stan for Discount Perry, you should know all about this shouldn’t you?

      • OhSoKeridAway July 5, 2013

        You finna let her talk to you like that?

      • LTM July 5, 2013

        Comprehension isn’t your forte is it? Like I said, if the song is trash payola is pointless. You can play it on radio all you want but if people don’t like it they won’t buy it. Example: If you put a death metal song on heavy rotation that doesn’t mean it will go platinum. Like I said, payola will only put your music out to millions, there is no guarantee they will buy it. Why you’re trying to bring in Katy, I have no idea.

      • VisionOfMimi July 5, 2013

        BeyWhoUWanna is too rude for my liking. Be mad at your fave who is the new Queen of Snippets and leave the Katy Cats alone.

    • MuiMui July 5, 2013

      @LTM You said it all, thanks.

  18. steph July 5, 2013

    EVERYONE USED PAYOLA IN SOME TIME IN THIER CAREERS. Motown was known for using payola back in the day. It was started by blacks in the 1960s for racial problems of people not playing black music on pop stations so blacks had to pay to get their stuff played. And it just carried on throughout the years. Tommy used it for Mariah, Clive used it for Whitney, Madonna used it all the time to play those nasty disrespectful songs she was creating in the 80s/90s. EVERYONE USSES IT. Some artist nowadays don’t even know that their record companies are paying for their records to be played on radio stations

    • Bey Fan July 5, 2013

      “….Madonna used it all the time to play those nasty disrespectful songs she was creating in the 80s/90s.”

      ROTFLMAOOOOOOOOOO….. tell us how you feel

  19. FAF July 5, 2013

    But payola is illegal so how does the government find out about this sort of thing? is a radio station gonna blow the whistle on some potential money? LMAOOOOOOOO

    payola is still alive & well . . .

    • BeachHouseBritney July 5, 2013

      You got it in one. Who gon check dem boo?

    • steph July 5, 2013

      YASSS IT IS. AS IT SHOULD BE!!!!! MARIAH CAREY GET YOUR 19TH THEN 20TH NUMBER 1 HIT PLEASEEEEEEE

  20. rita WHORA even copied ALL RIH’S TATTOOS July 5, 2013

    Rih does not need vids to sell. She does not TV promo to sell. She, soon, will not need Radio to sell.

    Beyonce is done cos she cannot survive with support of radio and POP radio WILL NOT GIVE IT TO HER .

    • FAF July 5, 2013

      is that why theres more white ppl at her concerts than black ? LMAOOOOOOO

      • rita WHORA even copied ALL RIH’S TATTOOS July 5, 2013

        Not in the USA – where payola comes from. In the US, beyonce fans are mainly black. This is why she is struggling to get pop hits in the USA. This is why her US album sales are declining. the new pop generation are not checking for her, she only, really has her loyal african american fans, that is why she is doing the essence festival. Rih had her biggest US opening sales and sell plat in the USA yearly. Why? She has a bigger share of the pop / white US public, due to her getting pop top 40 airplay.

        Check her number 1’s and the performance of stay and diamonds. If rih had dropped ‘ who run the world ” It would of been a smash. But it flopped for bey .

      • rita WHORA even copied ALL RIH’S TATTOOS July 5, 2013

        Rih has white countries stanning for her. Rih is bigger in Germany than Gaga. Same with UK. Rih is bigger than beyonce in France. Bey was a flop in France and Germany.

        So, now what?

      • Tash July 5, 2013

        Lies theres more whites at any Beyonce concert I have been. Go on her tumblr to see pictures of her US crowd aswell.

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        @RITA W**** Thanks keep up the good job, keep them
        Facts and Truths Coming because we know that the truth will set them Free.

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        @RITA WHORA Let them all know that we all all in the Gutter but some of us like Rihanna is looking at the Stars.

        Tell them that Rihanna know that Life is what happens while u r busy making other plans.

        Let them know that Rihanna is feeling good in knowing that things that do not kill her only tends to make her Stronger.
        Let them know that Rihanna know that if you are always trying to judge people then you will have no time left to love them.

  21. truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

    i think r&b should use payola…it’ll be a good thing for them. Taylor Swift-to-give-up-the-p**** uses it and so does other artist

    • RitasLipstick July 5, 2013

      OH MY GARSH. I know this b**** didn’t say Taylor Swift to give up the p****. I know she did NART!

      • PhuckYoFave July 5, 2013

        I don’t know why you’re laughing when you stan for Rita.

      • QueenBayonse July 5, 2013

        A Rihanna fan IINP to talk about other people’s bedroom activities when she is the #1 d*** polisher in the game.

  22. JARED (WHITE DUDE) July 5, 2013

    “Payola” is a fantastic example of ‘an industry not acting on its long term interests’.

    The recording industry is slowly killing itself.

    The consolidation of radio station ownership means that a few people choose what the listening public hears. The majority of the public, in this day and age, generally, doesn’t have time to go and ‘find new music’.

    Most people buy what they like after hearing it on the radio and now, because of payola and consolidation, it is now virtually impossible to get up-and-coming artists played.

    If we revert back to the 1960s and 1970s and look at how many artists, from multiple genres, got their big break. They got their break by a couple of DJs, from many different markets, liking their music and playing it. That can’t happen anymore. To get new music played, you have to convince a radio exec. at clear channel or ‘pay’ a DJ. That means that only a few acts that the record companies are pushing get played.

    The variety of music played on mainstream radio is very small. As a result, people generally hear what’s on the radio and do not invest in the many a- new artists who could sell a lot of records if anyone ever heard them but they rarely ever get heard and, as a result, rarely sell any records.

    The entire management system is broken, and has been posy
    t- 1995, thus the music industry is in a downward spiral because of it.

    But, the prime, corporate record labels are too greedy, short sided, conceited and sanctimonious to see why they are killing their own industry.

    R.I.P ‘AUTHENTIC R&B/SOUL & ROCK’ MUSIC.

    • J July 5, 2013

      FUCKNNNNNNN PREACH!!!!!!!

    • Lana Del Slay July 5, 2013

      I’m not even dealing with your wisdom right now.

      • MuiMui July 5, 2013

        JARED DAM THAT WAS A GREAT COMMENT THANKS FOR THE THOUGH.

    • KellyKDL July 5, 2013

      Grape Juice gets good comments when they do good posts. I’m sitting here on lunch breaking just nodding to everything you said honey.

    • RP2 July 5, 2013

      Honesty & truth at its finest… U go boy…

    • RICHIE_RICH July 5, 2013

      I see no lies ……It’s sad that it’s that way but I get it is what.

    • truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

      altho i agree with you i STILL SAY B**** STFU WITH YO EXTRA ASS!!! @JARED

  23. BTRusher July 5, 2013

    S/O to TGJ for giving us this thread. I’m seeing some interesting debates here.

    • KimmyBlancoDeLaFamilia July 5, 2013

      THIS.

  24. unreal thing July 5, 2013

    i dunno. does it do anything big? uber spinning that s***. i know i don’t listen to radio. but when i have to i’m annoyed hearing some s*** every hour.

    and promotional them guys could go do it themselves. take that time. paying is lazy. when you can afford it. on the other side the radio guys gonna be happy with a pocket of pennies. *shrugs*

    this is a thought maze tho. i’m not gonna jump to deep in it. actually don’t care enough. 😛

  25. ROSEGOLD July 5, 2013

    Doesn’t matter. Radio spins and single sales =/= album sales. That’s why we have so many singles artists now. People buy what they wanna buy.

  26. TaylorSwift1stan July 5, 2013

    Justin Timberlake is using PAYOLA like crazy!!
    Taylor Legendary Swift doesn’t need radio like rihanna. Rihanna is another one that uses payola ti its fullest!!

    • MuiMui July 5, 2013

      Taylor thanks for all the love you show for Rih.

  27. rita WHORA even copied ALL RIH’S TATTOOS July 5, 2013

    payola does not work is the artist is wack and the GP are not feeling them. Case in point, Rita Whora: In Feb 2012, jay z took Rita whora to Z100 for a chat and to premiere her debut song in the USA, then for 3 months she went on US pop and urban radio tour.
    What happened to her career in the USA? LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL bet she regrets tweeting ” hating ass b**** ” about rihanna. I know that shade about ” never do a song with you ” was about that industry clone who is on her last legs in the music game. Rita is running out o0f second chances. HA HA /

    • MuiMui July 5, 2013

      @RIT WHORA You are so right, you can lead a horse to water
      but you can’t make him drink.

      • truth(the new and refined TRUTH. f*** icki she done now i just slay a b****…yew mad??) July 5, 2013

        honey if you lead Rita to that horse she’ll F*** it!!! #RITALIKESHORSEDICKS

  28. POP ROYALTY [RUDE BOY] July 5, 2013

    *Plays ADELE – Turning Tables* from her ‘Diamond’ certified album “21” .

    • S****** Blonde July 5, 2013

      OMG!…your skin.

      • POP ROYALTY [RUDE BOY] July 5, 2013

        😉

  29. POP ROYALTY [RUDE BOY] July 5, 2013

    @SAM :

    didn’t know beyonce was team #payola !!!

    so you suggest Bey is team #payola ? :lol

  30. TaylorSwift1stan July 5, 2013

    Roc Nation buys Urban and Pop Airplay…
    While my fave doesn’t even need radio airplay to f***** sell 1 million copies first week. Something beyonce,Katy,Madonna,Rihanna would never achieve…
    Mariah fatrey used payola for #Beautiful but still it flopped so bad. If you are a Queen or Icon why doesn’t your lead charts in the top ten? Even madge managed to get a top ten… That’s a real legend.
    Beyonce and Mariah will never chart in the top ten ever again!

  31. Tash July 5, 2013

    Everyone uses payola or have done at some point. You are naive if you think otherwise.

  32. HOTSTUFF July 5, 2013

    hummm i believe RnB is a dying genre ….but it can make its comeback the same way EDM music was hot in the 80’s and disappeared, that’s when RnB had a reign and today EDM is back…but i even feel like EDM is slowly starting to fade away…

    Beyonce and Rihanna, mostly Rihanna keeps a fresh urban sound on their RnB tracks and/or their Rnb tracks are most of the time a perfect fresh blend between POP and RnB (Love song , Standing on the hood Oops sun** : they have a catchy hook like a pop song, a rnb flavor etc)….this can explain their success in contrary to Ashanti for instance who is stuck in the early 2000 and makes Rnb music that has a re-heated and stale feel to it….

  33. Nichole July 5, 2013

    Payola needs to crash, and burn.

    Listeners should be able to hear, and request what WE want to hear and not have radio and record labels dictate what we should be listening to.

    If general radio listeners like a song, then it will be requested. Radio should be left up to the listeners.

    We don’t need to hear a song like Suit & Tie being played on radio every hour, and all week long.

  34. Ace July 5, 2013

    You better preach that is so true!!!!! Prime example Adele was all over the radio but in truth I do not like her music. She just happened to 20 something million others who do. I’m not a fan so u didn’t buy her album yet I heard her songs on the radio (whenever I do listen to a radio because I definitely prefer my iPhone and auxiliary cord) So yes you are totally right. Payola and radio spins DOES NOT GUARANTEE platinum and diamond status. It only increases the chances for that artist and the artist without payola may have to work harder to get it out but other than that not guaranteed. People do not BUY music for hype but how it makes them feel. I can hear a song all day long on radio but if its trash money won’t be spent. I’ll illegally download if I just want the song because everybody else wants it. My illegal version will sound just like anyone else’s Itunes bought single lol So I’ll agree while heartedly with you. Payola is good only to better your chances of people hearing you.

  35. TaylorSwift1stan July 5, 2013

    Katy Perry >> S****** spears
    Tbh britney is one basic untalented h**

  36. Theman July 5, 2013

    Beyonce or Nicki dont hace that much power over pop radio, unless they release a very generic pop single….

  37. S****** Blonde July 5, 2013

    Payola is the most disgusting thing in Music, the lowest thing an artist could do, if people like Madonna, Britney and Michael Jackson would have used payola, at this point they would have 100 #1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100, after all their music is POP, their music appeal to almost everybody, the funny thing is that most #1 singles are not even as famous as most singles that has flopped or didn’t make it to #1.

    • JOHNVIDAL July 6, 2013

      Everybody has used it hun! Including Justin Timberlake and JLo this year! 🙂 It´s just a a first day, to get your song known

  38. Super Cisus July 5, 2013

    Rihalienna and Beyoldce the payola QUEENS!!!

    • Britney Stan July 5, 2013

      Yaaas

  39. Rihanna # 1 Fan T July 5, 2013

    they gotta do what they gotta do, by the way that picture of bey and rih is stunning 🙂

  40. KING B July 5, 2013

    isn’t it funny when stans go for each others throat while those two love each other?!?

  41. Jake July 5, 2013

    On an orher note Beyoncé is making Rihanna look like a fxking basic b**** with a bad weave on that picture .
    Actually I just google them and on every picture they took together Beyoncé does that to her LMAO

  42. ratedxxx(tic toc) July 5, 2013

    umm no, not everyone uses payola, just because your fav does, doesnt mean everybody does it….

    I know for a fact who uses payola…it’s those people that claims their tour has sold out in seconds, while there are millions of tickets left..they will pay the huge tickets brokers to say there are no more tickets left,

    it’s those people that have to be on every single magazine,talk shows, tv shows just to promote a damn album,

    its those people that get nominated for an album that’s 2,3 years old over and over again

    • Marley July 5, 2013

      Rihanna, Mariah, Beyonce, Adele, JLO, anet Jackson the list gies on of all the people that have used payola… Funny you’re only shading mainly one person though. Why is that?

      • Marley July 5, 2013

        Typos*

      • ratedxxx(you’re mad? and?) July 5, 2013

        really I’m shading one person?

        which part of my comment gave that away? I was talking about several people in general,

        and I want receipts that Mariah uses payola…because her last couple of albums flop big time, the majority of of her singles flopped also..so using payola would mean that she pays to get hits….when was the last time she had a hit?

        any idiot knows that beyonce and rihanna uses payola…because for all the hits they have on the charts their album sales are garbage,..and we all know roc nation is full of smoke and mirrors

      • Marley July 5, 2013

        Its obvious who you were aiming at honey people use the same shade. But I guess if you can recognize that other people use it so fine. Plus tickets for everyones concert can be found on second source websites because its not illegal for ticket websites to buy in bulk. But when you go to the shows its still a packed house. And Mariah blatantly used payola during e=mc2 and #beautiful not to mention back during her peak days but payola doesnt always guarantee success though. Tommy Matola was shady back in the day if you think payola wasnt involved in all them #1s….

      • Marley July 5, 2013

        And Im not hating on Mariah I love her and her music but lets be real here

      • ratedxxx(you’re mad? and?) July 5, 2013

        I don’t have any problems coming out and say I can’t stand beyonce fake ass, I’ve said it so many times on here, I even mention her name..

        so if I was going to just shade her, I would have said beyonce, not use the word people…

        beyonce is not the only person that has claimed her tour has sold out, and still have tickets available.FACT

        beyonce is not the only person who stays on every magazines/tv so on to promote her s***..rihanna has done more magazine covers than her.FACT

        and as for mariah using payola for her E MC album is b*******..because she only had 1 Hit single. and mariah is worth 500 million, why the hell would she only paid to get one hit single…

        and payola does mean getting hits..why the hell would somebody paid to get a flop single or an album..use common sense

      • ratedxxx(you’re mad? and?) July 5, 2013

        and the tour selling out crap…

        b*******, because as of right now beyonce’s and rihanna’s tours are suppose to be sold out every where…

        if you go on some major tickets site, you will see tickets are still available, roc nation can’t pay off all the tickets brokers…..in fact alot of these tickets brokers are cutting the price in half, for the beyonce american tour..

        and if tickets brokers are buying tickets in bulk, how the f*** does that equal a sell out tour? it’s not people who actually buying the tickets, it’s a bunch of companies buying those tickets, so it doesnt count..nice try

        like i said smoke and mirrors….

        and like I said show me receipts that mariah is using payola…because if i were to use payola, I would make sure that all my singles are a hit…using a flop album, that only had one hit, to show that mariah uses payola is comical

      • Marley July 5, 2013

        So what about the albums part of your comment? Dont tell me that wasnt directed at Beyonce and like I said before about the tickets just because they are available on second source website doesnt mean they are not official sold out via the original source. The artist cant avoid the other sites trying to make profit. Its not like the artist cant sell out because clearly (using Beyonce as an example) the demand speaks otherwise. So why would they loose profit by bumping it up to stupid prices so people cant afford it? And its common knowledge Mariah Carey has used payola hon whenever it was I could care less but shes used it just like maaany others. And payola does not guarantee success 100% of the time just because something gets airplay doesnt mean its going to be #1.

      • Marley July 5, 2013

        And now they are slashing prices people dont know so its not convinent. Like i said before ticket brokers are not illegal so its coming from them. But do you seriously think Beyonce and others cant sell out when shes crashing websites, has people camping outside for her tickets and stampedes? The artists and fans loose out because of the brokers. And now they are unavoidable.

  43. Jake July 5, 2013

    Beyoncé doesn’t love Rihanna and y’all stans know it , how many known picture of these two appear on google? 5-6 at best in 8 years!! Beyoncé and Kim Kardashian have more pictures together , even Rita Ora lmao

  44. Dustin July 5, 2013

    I worked in radio and video promotion and marketing for years. While I agree the necessity of payola is mitigated by social media, it’s still necessary. In 06 alone I was given BIG budgets for crazy by gnarls Barkley, irreplaceable by beyonce and who says you can’t go home by Bon jovi. Those were 3 of the biggest and catchiest singles out that year and I still had money to work with getting them spins.

  45. Summer Love July 5, 2013

    Payola is common amongst everyone. Not even just in the biggest stars. Its one of those things that will always be. Like illegal downloading. It will always be there.

  46. xedos July 5, 2013

    have nothing to do with payola. all the rnb station sold to white owners who turn then into top 40 ,or talk radio.
    look on KISS 98.7 in new york. in the 90’s when rnb east on top that that was the major rnb.hip station on the east cost. its been sold to espn to be a sport radio. if you cannot get radio play you’re screwed. next thing black people don’t buy music and white people only like black music when its done by white. as good as adel album is if she was black that album would never go platinum.

  47. blue July 5, 2013

    alot of major artists have been making deals with radio stations to have their songs especially debut singles to be played as much as possible its first two weeks of its digital release to better its debut position on billboard…

    britney did it with hold it against me so did gaga with born this way, rihanna with either only girl, bey with run the world girls, mariah with beautiful…but this deal usually only last a few weeks and after that you can clearly see the huge airplay lose they suffer until they stabilise again

  48. ashley July 5, 2013

    Payola isn’t going nowhere. The bigger issue is the payola to the blogs, alot of really great artist aren’t getting the exposure they deserve because they don’t have a huge major label behind them who can buy their way to the top. That is the real travesty, but no one wants to talk about that. Blogs are the new radio.

  49. Mark111 July 5, 2013

    Why are we acting like radio is the only format for music? Do people really pay attention to the radio that much these days? Music has changes and will always change, the days of having to buy an album/tape/CD cause it was the ONLY way to listen to music, now a song is just a click away, rather you’re buying, sharing or stealing it.

  50. jokilno October 14, 2015

    “is payola bad?”

    Yes IT IS
    according to laws
    1-guy pay to make his song be played on radio after or before the song play the radio station say “this song was advertised by artist x”
    2-guy pay to have his song played on radio. the station say nothing about this.

    according to laws the situation 1 is not payola but situation 2 is.

    THE REAL QUESTION BECOME:
    WHY THE F*** DO YOU SPECIFICALLY NOT WANT THAT THE LISTENERS KNOW YOU HAVE ADVERTISED YOUR SONG ON THE STATION?

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