Attending the 2007 National Conference for Media Reform in Memphis, Tennessee introduced me not only to a new way of thinking, but to the realization that free media is in danger of extinction. The conference was a learning opportunity as well as it was an experience. One of the things that affected me most was a workshop I was able to attend on the subject of payola.

When I went into the workshop, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. I had never even heard the word “payola” before. I definitely didn’t know that I would walk out with such a new awareness of the way that the world of music has become, in some ways, corrupt and insincere.

Dictionary.com defines payola in a few different ways. The definition that is probably most fitting is, “Bribery of an influential person in exchange for a promotion of a product or service, such that of disc jockeys for the promotion of records.” In the United States, the practice of payola is illegal. Under law, a radio station may always play a song in exchange for money, but it must be announced on the air as being sponsored airtime and should not be reported as a “spin” (a single play).

Ninety percent of songs played on the radio today are from big radio labels. It is no secret that one of the methods they’re using to get this accomplished is payola. The fact that so many are using money and bribes to force the people to listen to the same handful of songs confirms that it’s quickly becoming harder for independent artists and labels to have their music played. The amount of times a song can be played in a rotation has tripled, which is why you often hear the same song twice in merely 65 minutes on the exact same station. Criminals now own the music industry, and those criminals know what they’re doing to make a profit. It’s amazing what people will do for money.

So, inquiring minds want to know: What can we do about this growing problem? The truth is there isn’t much that will currently be done with the current FCC. This issue prevails probably because, though not new issue, it remains a hidden one. A number of artists are afraid to take on payola in fear of retaliation. Perhaps the first step would be for people to become aware. There should be more workshops, such as the one I attended, and more websites, so that people can become better educated on this issue that the musical industry has been plagued with. After all, payola isn’t just affecting an industry; it’s affecting our culture.

Mackenzie Elyse is a 17 year old homeschooler and aspiring writer, who plans to attend college for theatre and music.