Payola: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽถ
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payola

 

[ peษชหˆoสŠlษ™ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

music industry

Payola refers to the illegal practice of paying broadcasters or DJs to promote specific songs on the radio. This unethical practice undermines the integrity of the music industry and can lead to a distorted understanding of what songs are genuinely popular. Although payola has been a controversial topic for decades, it remains a significant point of contention in discussions surrounding music promotion and advertising. The term originated in the mid-20th century and highlights issues of transparency and honesty in the music business.

Synonyms

bribery, kickback, payment

Examples of usage

  • The DJ was accused of payola after several of his playlists featured artists signed to labels that paid him.
  • Investigations in the 1950s revealed widespread payola practices among radio stations.
  • Legislation was introduced to curb the influence of payola in the music industry.

Translations

Translations of the word "payola" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น payola

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅ‡เคฏเฅ‹เคฒเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Payola

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ payola

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะตะนะพะปะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ payola

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒšใ‚คใ‚ชใƒฉ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท payola

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ payola

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท payola

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŽ˜์ด์˜ฌ๋ผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุจุงูŠูˆู„ุง

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ payola

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ payola

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ดฟ่ต‚

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ payola

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ payola

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฟะตะนะพะปะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒžแƒ”แƒ˜แƒแƒšแƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ payola

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ payola

Word origin

The term 'payola' emerged in the early 1930s, derived from the combination of 'pay' and the Spanish word 'ola,' meaning wave. Initially, it was used to describe the practice of bribing radio DJs or music executives to play specific songs, thereby creating a false impression of popularity. The practice came to widespread attention in the 1950s, leading to various legal challenges and public outcry. In response, the United States Congress held hearings on payola, resulting in tighter regulations to combat the issue. The controversy surrounding payola has evolved with the music industry's shifting landscape, including the rise of digital streaming and online promotions. Despite these changes, the core ethical questions of transparency and fairness in music promotion remain relevant.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,283, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.