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Sharky Waters
Encinitas band Switchfoot played the Sports Arena December 2 with Alanis Morissette, the B-52s, Train, and two other bands. The show, called Jingle Ball, was sponsored by Clear Channel pop station Star 94.1. According to a document released in July by New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer, Switchfoot's appearance may have been a form of payola.
Earlier this year, Spitzer's office launched the investigation that yielded the Sony BMG Music Entertainment payola scandal. Sony (which includes Switchfoot's label Columbia) agreed to pay $10 million for engaging in pay-for-play practices during the past three years. Spitzer implicated Channel 9-3-3 program director Diana Laird; she allegedly accepted a plasma TV in exchange for playing a Mariah Carey song. Channel 9-3-3 (owned by Clear Channel) fired Laird in October.
In the document released by Spitzer, Switchfoot is mentioned by name; it is alleged that radio stations had to commit to playing Switchfoot music before the band would play at those stations' Christmas shows. If a deal existed between Columbia and Star 94.1, it could have been made without knowledge of the band. Switchfoot's management had no comment.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Sharky Waters
Sharky Waters
Encinitas band Switchfoot played the Sports Arena December 2 with Alanis Morissette, the B-52s, Train, and two other bands. The show, called Jingle Ball, was sponsored by Clear Channel pop station Star 94.1. According to a document released in July by New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer, Switchfoot's appearance may have been a form of payola.
Earlier this year, Spitzer's office launched the investigation that yielded the Sony BMG Music Entertainment payola scandal. Sony (which includes Switchfoot's label Columbia) agreed to pay $10 million for engaging in pay-for-play practices during the past three years. Spitzer implicated Channel 9-3-3 program director Diana Laird; she allegedly accepted a plasma TV in exchange for playing a Mariah Carey song. Channel 9-3-3 (owned by Clear Channel) fired Laird in October.
In the document released by Spitzer, Switchfoot is mentioned by name; it is alleged that radio stations had to commit to playing Switchfoot music before the band would play at those stations' Christmas shows. If a deal existed between Columbia and Star 94.1, it could have been made without knowledge of the band. Switchfoot's management had no comment.
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