Radio Companies Must Pay FCC Over Payola

“Documents revealed that stations received payments for playing songs by top recording artists such as Jennifer Lopez, John Mayer, Jessica Simpson, Maroon 5 and Franz Ferdinand. Clear Channel Communications Inc., CBS Radio Inc., Entercom Communications Corp. and Citadel Broadcasting Corp. have agreed to pay the broadcast regulator a total of $12.5 million US and provide 8,400 half-hour segments of free airtime earmarked specifically for independent record labels and local artists.”