Radio Industry Said to Seek Deal to Settle Payoff Accusations

RADIO INDUSTRY SAID TO SEEK DEAL TO SETTLE PAYOFF ACCUSATIONS
[SOURCE: New York Times 4/1, AUTHOR: Jeff Leeds]
The nation's biggest radio broadcasters are in discussions with the Federal Communications Commission to resolve accusations that station programmers accepted improper payments from record companies in exchange for playing specific songs, officials involved in the talks said last night. But the talks have stalled on questions about how much money the companies — Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio, Entercom Communications and the Citadel Broadcasting Corporation — might have to pay to settle the case. (No, no, no... keep your money, please -- we just want your licenses.) If the two sides do not come to an accord, the agency is expected to start a broad investigation into the payments and request internal documents and e-mail messages from the radio chains. The companies are trying to avoid the expense -- and potential embarrassment -- that could arise from an investigation.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/01/business/media/01payola.html
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* New action against bribes fights a practice that goes back decades
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA040206.1R.payola.4cf7125.html