Payola is a combination of the words "pay" and"Victrola" (LP record player), and was rife during the 1950's & 60's... err probably 70's and 80's and 90's and definately making a nice trade in the 00's.

In 2005, a number of court cases were brought against Sony/BMG & Warner about their blatant Purchasing of airtime. After settling a few millions of out of court settlements, it would seem that now the New York Attorny General Eliot Spitzer is widening the case to the big US radio conglomorates in particular: Clear Channel Radio, Infinity Broadcasting, Cox Radio, and Cumulus Broadcasting and the treatment of hit songs. Speaking to the New York Post Spitzer said "A lot of the major songs have been implicated in this, and it showed how pervasive the payola infrastructure had become"

Clear Channel's Andrew Levin said, "We have zero tolerance for pay-for-play. Any employee who violates that policy faces disciplinary action up to and including dismissal."

They do you know, I read the handbook.