We all know the Myspace can be manipulated, the government calls this “fuzzy math”. MTV’s TRL can be manipulated as well….
Taken from FOX News:
“Nevertheless, the record company persisted. A series of e-mails in June 2005 shows what was happening — a manipulation of MTV’s “Total Request Liveâ€? show that airs every afternoon and can seriously affect a new record’s fortunes.”
UMG, according to Spitzer’s reports, was spending money at radio stations and for “TRL� to “stuff the ballot box� (my words) and turn losers into winners.
The memo series is all about one subject: “We are hiring a request company starting Monday to jack TRL for Lindsay…Guys this is a no win situation how should I respond…there is no airplay we have been pursuing…â€?
Even more troubling, but not surprising, is a group called Dream originally found by Sean “Diddy” Combs. A July 2003 e-mail tells the story:
“Okay, this is not fun for me. I’ve been consumed all day with calls with etc bitching about our radio picture on Dream. Confidentially pop has spent $196,000 and r/c has spent $72,000 … This is embarrassing a total lack of accountability. We have gotten ripped off beyond belief, we better turn this thing around or it’s our a**. That’s almost $300,000 and they are looking for some heads…bad bad bad…If I find out that deals were cut with lack of airplay and overnight spins starting with the nationals, as they say heads are gonna roll, including mine.â€?
“Of course, the record companies are not alone in creating this atmosphere of payola. The radio stations have encouraged and accepted it.”
Seriously, if your going to put that type of money into a song, please..make sure its a “hit”, or somewhat of a “hit”. No excuse for that!
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