Crossroad Blues, by Robert Johnson. As Michael Campbell’s Popular Music in America (The Beat Goes On), Robert Johnson is arguably the most mysterious figure in the history of popular music. From his still undetermined death, which most hypothesize is being poisoned by his supposed paramour’s jealous husband to the way in which one man with a guitar can create a sound that could effortlessly grapple listeners of then and today.
Incorporating an enticing style of picking into the intro riff of Crossroad Blues, Johnson sets the scene for a song that’s lyrics to depict a broken man begging for guidance. Johnson’s vocal tone is that of strife, Eric Clapton Viewed Johnson’s singing as “the most powerful cry that I think you can find in the human voice”. Lyrics such as, “I went down to the crossroad, fell down on my knees”, continuing to ask God for forgiveness on behalf of “Bob”. When first listening to the Crossroad Blues I initially thought Johnson had a second guitar player as rhythm only to discover that he was so talented he was capable of covering both sections. In fact, Keith Richards was under the same impression until later corrected and then described Johnson as “an orchestra all by himself”.
The textbook certainly is capable of describing and breaking down the “ins and outs” of Johnson’s music and all types of music for that matter. Musical terms such as his “lazy tempo” style of rhythm or the pitch alteration in his melody are all accurate descriptions of Johnson’s music. But as a listener who is not a musician, I tend to focus less on chord progressions and more on the feel or emotion that is in the song or the emotion that resonates inside of me as the listener. The feelings that pulsate through me when taking in Crossroad Blues are that of reflection and understanding of what may be yet to come. For example, how cruel and unforgiving life really is. In the line “I tried to flag a ride. Didn’t nobody seem to know me, babe, everybody pass me by”. describes how in life, relying on the kindness and support of others may prove futile, as it seems the truth is that life both then and now is difficult. except, back then the strong survived.

Some say this is the moment Johnson “sold his soul to the devil”, given the time and the culture I personally believe the opposite is more realistic. Similar to the book of Jobe, in which God makes an example of one of his faithful subjects in a time when faith was at an all-time low. in order to see if “Jobe”, the man tested by God would remain faithful to the lord. Perhaps Crossroad Blues is of a similar effect putting a man’s test in song to then which all who hear it can relate and better cope with their own personal challenge.
Personally, the fashion in which the song is presented is the most personal it could be. In the sense that it seems most real can make the listener think and reflect best as a solo act. A version with a full band or added music just wouldn’t do the message or the artist justice. As many artists have covered Johnson’s works, they haven’t been 100% successful in recapturing exactly what Johnson was enduring. Although, perhaps the point of the covers may not have been to recapture exactly the essence of the original, but rather to both pay homage to an icon and describe the cover artists grief or struggle through a man’s words from a different time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A

Myers, Marc (April 22, 2011). “Still Standing at the Crossroads”

Wald 2004, pp. 178–179.

Campbell, Michael. Popular music in America: The Beat Goes On, Fourth Edition. Schirmer Cenage Learning, 2013.

#M3Q2

Over the course of human history mankind has come up with many interesting ways to entertain the community. Some receive it in the form of music, others through plays or movies and many more through reading. The article Shuffle Along’ and the Lost History of Black Performance in America by John Jeremiah Sullivan is a very interesting article on the making of the 2016, Shuffle Along, or, the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.

During this time, blackface  was something that was not only common but accepted by the people and done by white and black people. Usually when people in the modern world learn that black people also did blackface, they are typically thrown for a loop because black people are already dark skinned (Sullivan 2016). During the 19th century, black people where not allowed to appear on stage to perform and when public opinion finial grew more accepting and comfortable with African-American people, they could never look like themselves on stage (Sullivan 2016). This is because the stage seems to give power to who ever happens to be on it, even if its temporary, but the white folk of that time really didn’t like the idea the idea of black men or women having power (Sullivan 2016). So when any kind of entertainment called for a “black” looking character, a white person would blackface, but because of this, black people used blackface as well and the audience was unable to tell the difference between a white person doing black face and a black person doing blackface. Now the original Shuffle Along” was an all black cast, and as if that wouldn’t cause them any trouble, they did something else to shock and scare the white audience (Sullivan 2016).

What scared the white folks at the time was romance; black romance to be specific. Generally speaking, the crowed of play watchers (mostly white people) where fine watching a black men singing a lovely  song to his love interest but were made very uncomfortable if the situation escaladed to anything further (Sullivan 2016). Shuffle Along did this by having Roger Matthews and Lottie Gee sing the song called Love Will Find a Way (John 2016). 

After watching the video where it out right says that what they are planning to do is not only never been done, but is considered the unthinkable due to the views white people had for blacks. Despite this, they showed a love song between a black man and a black woman on stage which, as one would guess, pushed the boundaries of what black people could do on stage.

Their was yet another way for black people to appear on stage besides the usual blackface. This other way came in the form of Patting Juba. Patting Juba was an Expressive, complex and very physically taxing style of dance which over the years ended up gaining some Celtic elements mixed  (Sullivan 2016). Patting Juba meant African dancing, plantation dancing and was done by “drumming your body, slapping your chest and knees and the soles of your feet” (John 2016). So, as I was able to gather, Patting Juba was a dance that turned your whole body into an instrument which you used to entertain people (Sullivan 2016). Now what makes things better is that Juba, with the help of black and Irish-­Americans, was the inspiration that lead to the creation of what we call tap dancing (Sullivan 2016). Juba, gave black folk another way to be seen in performance such as the best Juba dancer of the time who was also called Juba (Sullivan 2016).

The most popular song to come out the musical is a song called I’m Just Wild About Harry   (Sullivan 2016). Now when I had first heard this song I realized why it was so popular. the song itself is just catchy. Its fun, up beat and just great to listen to. After listening to it I couldn’t help but feel like I had heard those lyrics before so I search some more and found out why. Its because I had heard from the BugsBunny and Tweety Show.

Now I just so happen to be a great fan of the musical stylings of Daffy Duck but its understandable if folks prefer a professional singer. Based on the article, the 2016 Shuffle Along show pay a great deal of respect to the original musical. The 2016 show goes though a no holds bar representation on how difficult life was for colour people and their struggles to be equal and appear on stage (Sullivan 2016).

After reading this article, I wouldn’t say that I learned a lot of new information besides Juba. I’d say what I really got out of it was a more finely detailed look in to the difficulties coloured people faced on stage where’s as before I only had the simple general knowledge of “yes their was blackface back in the day and coloured people had a very hard and difficult time appearing on stage”. As for the Text book Popular Music In America: The Beat Goes On, I would say it does give a far fair perspective on blackface in America. Now because the text book has to cover a lot of material it does give the bare bones of the struggles coloured people had face but it also gives descriptions on how coloured people felt about it hard ship (Campbell) Not to mention it also repeatedly goes through and tells the reader across multiple chapters how hard it was for black people so if you find yourself forgetting that fact, I think you have bigger problems to deal with.

Source:

Campbell, Michael. Popular Music in America: The Beat Goes on. Boston, MA: Cengage, 2019

Sullivan, John Jeremiah. “‘Shuffle Along’ and the Lost History of Black Performance in America.” The New York Times. March 24, 2016. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/magazine/shuffle-along-and-the-painful-history-of-black-performance-in-america.html?mcubz=1.

Paul Anka is largely unknown by young Canadians who are surrounded by homegrown artists such as Justin Bieber and Drake. However, Anka is by far one of the most influential Canadian singers to gain North American and International fame. Even more impressive is the fact that he achieved this status at only 14 years old after auditioning in New York City. He then recorded “Diana” which would push him to #1 in Canada and the US.

Yet, his singing skills were only outdone by his skills in composing and writing. Famous songs such as “My Way” by Frank Sinatra and “She’s a lady” by Tom Jones all featured the lyrics written solely by Paul. Other compositions included the theme song to The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and “This is it” by Michael Jackson. These songs are what allowed Paul to stay in the music scene for over 40 years as he would appear in the Top 100 first in 1960 and for the last time in 2013. This is a feat that only few artists such as Cher, Santana and Paul McCartney have surpassed and is the reason that Paul is still singing today. His songs have even made the charts in Italy, France and Japan showing the expanse of influence that Paul has had on the music industry across the globe.

The above recording is the original Monaural recording of Crazy Love. In this song you can hear two distinct influences, one from Frank Sinatra and one from Nat King Cole. From Sinatra you can hear the big-band type sounds from the beginning with powerful trumpets and strings. This can be best heard in Sinatra’s “Taking a chance on love” as seen below. Listen to the pauses in his singing to hear the distinct trumpets.

Another key feature to Paul that is from Frank Sinatra influence is the way that Paul hangs on to the notes before he changes pitch. This form of crooning is something that Sinatra had been doing in his performances since the early 1950’s showing that it was an obvious influence. This influence would become even greater as the two would closely collaborate after the success of “My Way”. Lastly, he seems to have adopted his stage presence from certain aspects of Frank’s performances. Paul would use his hands for emphasize while staying relatively near the mic stand as did Frank during many large performances. Some could argue that this was the standard way of performance at the time, however, the close contact between the two of them indicates that their was a specific influence.

Another large influence in Paul’s career was Nat King Cole, the world famous Jazz pianist who was the first African American person to host a show on national broadcast. But what did Paul draw from Nat as he wrote his songs? The key is repetition. Paul structured his songs just as Nat did by having a chorus that was consistently sang after each verse. This can be seen when comparing “Lets fall in love” and “Put your head on my Shoulder”.

Each song has a distinct chorus that is repeated for emphasis. Paul would take this technique for all of his writing career and it would become the main writing format that is still used today.

For Paul, he had a distinct advantage when it came to the other crooners of his time. This advantage was based solely on his ability to write music. Most singers of the time had writers in the background such as Frank Sinatra who ironically had Paul in the background writing one of his most famous songs. This ability was first seen from Paul when his first signed contract was a singer/songwriter contract, Something that was relatively uncommon in the industry. He wrote for Tom Jones, The Partridge family, Van Morrison, and Don Mclean. So after his entire career, Paul has made more hits as a writer/composer then he has a singer. This shows the versatility of the Canadian legend.

Through all of these achievements Paul Anka put Canada on the map as a country that could produce international musicians. An easy comparison would be Michael Bublé who has enjoyed large international success. It could be said that without the groundwork laid by Paul, modern day crooners such as Bublé would not have the access to American and International markets. That is why Paul Anka is such a significant name in popular music with connections to Canada.

And to bring this bog to a close, I will leave the readers with an amazing fact about Paul Anka. As mentioned multiple times earlier, Paul Anka was the writer/mastermind to “My Way” the song that would somewhat define Frank Sinatra’s career. However, did you know that he wrote that song in only one night? This shows the absolute brilliance of the man. While he did have a French version to work with, he still had to mold it into an English song that made lyrical sense and would be good enough to present to his life long hero, Frank Sinatra. Instances like this is why Paul Anka is a defining Canadian (even though he became American in 1990….)

References

musicvideosparttwo. “Nat King Cole Let’s Fall In Love.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Mar. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=2acqTQfSAKk.

O’Connor, Austin. “10 Things You May Not Know About Paul Anka.” AARP, 17 Apr. 2013, www.aarp.org/entertainment/music/info-04-2013/10-things-about-paul-anka.html.

“Paul Anka.” Biography, paulanka.com/biography/.

Milos1430. “Paul Anka – Crazy Love – 1958.” YouTube, YouTube, 17 Sept. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMDyNjz4bwg.

Junievelasco. “Paul Anka – Diana.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Aug. 2008, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh0doCIySw4.

I’m back but this time I am not in the middle of nowhere I am at work, this will be my second blog post so here we go.

The great Payola Scandal of 1959. Lets start off with what payola is the dictionary definition of it is “a secret or private payment in return for a promotion of a product service, etc. through the abuse of one’s position, influence or facilities.” (Dictionary.com 2018) Doesn’t that just sound intriguing? who had their hands in the payola pot?

In the 1950’s payola became a well-known event to society, this is because of the rise of records over live music so the best way to promote a new record was to get it into the hands a well-known radio announcer or a disc jockey, but this generally came at a cost.  But what really showed the world of it happening was the 1958 game show scandal where a $64,000 question was rigged. (Neira 2004 )

Alan Freed and Dick Clark were famously known for allegedly having their hand in the pot of payola because of their influence on rock ‘n’ roll. Freed took a serious fall from this though

Alan Freed

(Image circa 1954-56 via BBC)

Who was Alan Freed and why is he so important? Allan Freed is known for coining the term Rock and Roll, he used the word to describe black R&B records that he was playing on the radio in the early 1950’s.  freed was also the planner for what is now looked at as the first ever rock ‘n’ roll concert, the Moondog Coronation Ball in Cleveland. (https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed n.d.) Freed was a trailblazer in the world of rock n roll he quickly grew too putting together more rock and roll concerts and growing as a radio star that he moved from Cleveland to the state of NewYork and joined the Wins radio station.

After Alan Freed was brought down off his airplay throne the Congress amended their federal communications act to say that one must disclose whether or not airplay had been purchased. Payola became nothing but a misdemeanour with a fine of up $10,000 and one year in prison. Today that’s all it is is a slap on the wrist in a sense one must disclose if airplay has been paid for and must tell their station before they accept said payment and then still disclose that the airplay has been paid for.

Dick Clark

(http://www.pophistorydig.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/clark-at-podium-320.jpg)

Dick Clark was also famously known for supposedly having his hand in the payola pot. Clark, unlike many other disc jockeys, knew how to cover his rear end. He did this by investing minimal amounts into the different record labels, therefore, making him an owner of some of what was produced. So when he profited off of playing them on his radio shows it didn’t look as if he was taking any bribes he was just being paid as an investor. His lesson to everyone was to cover your rear end or it just might get bit.

All in all the payola scandal of 1959 did bring light to something that happened and that still happens in one way or another that someone uses someone else to get ahead and quite often through bribery. The fine now seems like a bit of a slap on the wrist and yes you can go to prison for a year but overall this doesn’t seem like all that harsh of a penalty. The scandal of 1959 also ruined a mans life but not  just some man the man who pretty well-invented rock and roll

References

2018. www.dictionary.com/browse/payola?s=t.

n.d. https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed. Accessed July 18, 2018. https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/alan-freed.

Hutchinson, Lydia. 2015. Alan Freed and the Radio Payola Scandal. August 20. Accessed July 18, 2018. http://performingsongwriter.com/alan-freed-payola-scandal/.

Neira, Bob. 2004 . Payola Scandal Rocks 50″s Radio. www.modestoradiomusem.org/payola.html.

staff, history.com. 2009. Music The payola scandal heats up . Accessed July 18, 2018. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-payola-scandal-heats-up.

(http://www.pophistorydig.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/clark-at-podium-320.jpg)

(Image circa 1954-56 via BBC)

2017. Payola rules . December 8. Accessed July18 2018. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/fccs-payola-rules.

Hello, blogger world I am Meghan H. I am coming to you from the middle of nowhere Sask,

Mamie Smith (Robinson) was said to have been born in Ohio back in 1883. She was an American vaudeville singer, dancer, pianist, and actress.  as a vaudeville singer, she performed several types of music blues, jazz. Mamie left home at an early age to pursue her career in performing. She was singing in clubs in Harlem when she married William Smith. she stared in a handful of movies in her later career most notably the jailhouse blues.  Mamie made her mark on the music industry by being the first African American female singer to record vocal blues. Her record crazy blues that was recorded in 1920 Mamie’s record awakened record companies to the world of race records. Mamie’s record sold over 1 million records in less than a year solidifying the notion that race records are wanted as the main audience that purchased the record where people of race.

With the time of which Mamie was performing and growing up she would have experienced the challenges of being a black woman in the united states as people of race where a minority and same were women so going ahead Mamie already had 2 strikes against her, therefore, making the image of which that she couldn’t become a successful musician, but there was also the notion that African Americans wouldn’t and couldn’t buy records or record players. When her record released she changed that image.

Three examples of her music that I feel have best represented her contributions to music/ blues are Crazy Blues, That Thing Called Love and My Sportin’ Man I feel that each of these bring a different sound and a different level from spirit and attitude out in her.

Crazy Blues

Crazy blues seems like such an obvious, choice but for what reason? Yes, she was the first African American women to record blues vocals, and yes her arguably most famous recording. But with this, she became a role model for so many other female musicians like Bessie Smith. The lyrics of the song tell about feelings not so much of a story. the feelings come from abuse and attachment to a person and how much they mean to you that it can cause physical and mental pain to with them or without them, therefore calling the songs the blues as this is what the song is about. the song was also the first to show that people of race do listen to music and will invest in it to hear it and have to ability to play it.

That Thing Called Love

That Thing Called Love was released in 1921 and was written by J Dunn.  the instrumentation within the song is soft but a little contradicting to her voice and the lyrics. the song its self-seems to be more cheery something that I imagine being played in a Disney film when she’s singing about the boy that’s caught her heart unlike that of the crazy blues was emotional but in a sad and sombre way.

My Sportin’ Man

My Sportin Man was recorded in 1929. The major differences in this that I see from the previous two songs is how prominent her voice truly is in comparison to others the instrumentation isn’t overpowering her voice it is supporting it. you can see that she is growing as an artist. within this song, you can also hear how strong he voice is and that’s something that I didn’t feel could be heard before.

1. Ginell, R. S. (n.d.). Mamie Smith. Retrieved from All Music : https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mamie-smith-mn0000671455/biography
2. Songfacts, LLC. 2018. CRAZY BLUES by MAMIE SMITH.http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?lyrics=11184
3. Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds ‎– Old Time Blues / That Thing Called Love. (2018). Retrieved from Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/Mamie-Smiths-Jazz-Hounds-Old-Time-Blues-That-Thing-Called-Love/release/4307962

Paul Anka was a Canadian singer/songwriter who was born in Ottawa in 1941. Anka’s career as a singer started at a very young age with his firs hit “Diana” being a huge hit when he was only 16 years old. Anka knew how to give the people the music they wanted and became a star because of it.

Listening to Anka’s music I had heard the songs Diana and also Put Your Head on my Shoulder. I knew I wanted to discuss one of these two songs. Hence my look into Paul Anka’s – Put Your Head on My Shoulder.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvxagNIBVLU

Anka’s performance draws strongly on performers of his time such as Nat ‘King’ Cole and Frank Sinatra. One of the most recognizable similarities was the role that solo artists played. In this time era single artists were more prominent and there was a rising of members leaving bands to become solo artists (i.e. Cole leaving his trio). Additionally, like these singers, Anka delivers his song very personally. As listeners, we do not just hear the song, but we feel the song and we relate to it. We can hear that he is swooning a woman and wanting her to love him as much as he loves her. The song becomes about the words more than it does the melody that is played behind Anka’s voice. Because his voice becomes the most important part of the song he can incorporate stop time vocals on the some of his words. We hear it just before the words “Baby”, “show me” and “maybe”.

The musical influence continues as we begin to really listen to the song. It is a smooth ballad that has a strong jazz influence. We hear the influence in the four-beat rhythm that is known to jazz songs. The melody of the music just really softly swings. We hear the jazz rhythm and the syncopations in the drum in the background music. The melody that we can hear holds long lines and the drum through the bridge of the song has a strong backbeat. All things that were popularized by singers such as Nat Cole. Like Sinatra, Anka flows over the pulse of the music making the song very much his own. The texture becomes sultry and appealing to the teens of that era.

Many singers of this time have a distinctive sound and when you hear them you know who it is. As Anka is not played very much (or I am not listening to the right stations to hear him) I do not hear his music. But I do believe he puts out a different tone and he would be a singer that I would recognize in the future if I were to hear a different song made by him.

Paul Anka differs from other crooners of his era as he was not only a singer but a songwriter as well. He wrote many songs that became popular fast as he always knew what the music market was looking for. Some of the hits that Anka wrote include, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore for Buddy Holly and the theme for Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show…[and] Tom Jones’ bestselling record She’s a Lady, Donny Osmond’s cover of Puppy Love, Barbra Streisand’s Jubilation, and the English lyrics to the song My Way, which was made famous by Frank Sinatra and is one of the most memorable songs in modern music history” (CSHF, 2008). Anka had some hits from his own singing but had a lot of hits when it came to his songwriting. Here are some examples of the songs he wrote:

It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygBo9Fmq5l4

My Way – Frank Sinatra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljrFQyE1hAg

The two songs show just how much he could change his style of writing to fit the wants of a society that had changing tastes. With It Doesn’t Matter Anymore we get a little Rock but a little Rhythm and Blues. We hear a string section that has strong interludes and a quick tempo. Which was popular music at that time. But his writing becomes more melodic and about Frank Sinatra’s voice in the ballad My Way. “Anka has always been ahead of the curve, anticipating changes in pop culture and absorbing new musical styles with ease” (CSHF, 2008)

Anka continues even now to write and play music. He has a knack for knowing how to change a song to make it new. He released an album of cover songs in 2007 entitled Classic Songs: My Way. The album sold many copies as the songs were popular hits such as “Mr. Brightside” and “Time after Time. He refurbishes songs to give them a new look. Anka was interviewed by the CSHF and he said this”’When you are a musician or a songwriter you dissect everything you hear,’ Anka has said. ‘A good song is a good song. And they usually can be done several ways.’” This is why Anka’s writing is so powerful.

Not only does the above show how he is different then other crooners but I also think it shows his significance to popular music. He continued to write in the style that was wanted at that time and had an ear for popular music. He consistently can play and write music that wants to be heard and can reach billboard status. His music also does not just get stuck in North America but spreads across oceans to hit charts in other countries such as England. He is a role model to look up to for Canadians, he was a boy from Ottawa that started working in his father’s restaurant that had big dreams (Biography, 2017).

Anka now is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, holds the title Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters in France, has received the Order of Canada, and has a star on not only Hollywood’s walk of Fame, but also on Canada’s walk of Fame. Inspiring.

I did not know much about Anka before beginning this blog so much of what I found out was interesting. But I was surprised by not what I read but what I heard. I found it surprising that he could take so many songs from different genres and give them such a different feel. I always forget how much I love jazz music that really swings until I hear it. Anka has an album entitled Rock Swings and I know every song on it but one, but I had never heard any of Paul Anka’s cover songs. I found myself listening to them throughout writing my blog. I enjoyed them a lot (I do not think I will listen to Van Halen’s Jump over Anka’s version ever again). He is so intuitive in his writing of music. The song is still the song I remember but just in a swing jazz melody. It was very fun and intriguing.

Just a taste of his covers, I think every Canadian should hear this. I love it.

Paul Anka – Jump (Cover from Van Halen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlMq8DImlTI

Lindsy

Works Cited

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. 2008. Paul Anka. Retrieved From: http://www.cshf.ca/songwriter/paul-anka/

Gillet, Frank. 2013. Anka’s Away!. Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com.cyber.usask.ca/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA346138957&v=2.1&u=usaskmain&it=r&p=ITOF&sw=w

Nygaard King, Betty. 2010. Paul Anka. Retrieved From: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-anka-emc/

Unknown. 2017. Paul Anka Biography. Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/people/paul-anka-3424

Unknown. 2011. Paul Anka Biography. Retrieved from: http://paulanka.com/biography/

All Songs were found on Youtube.ca

The end of World War Two marked a turning point for the music industry in America. With the growing popularity of Rock and Roll, increased use of 45 rpm single and the increasing amount of music labels. Allowed for new opportunities in the industry. However, with the prosperity, also came one of the most massive music scandals. This scandal would later be known as Payola. Beginning in the early 1950s the sharp increase in record production meant more job opportunities for Disc Jockey’s (DJ’s) and more radio station being established. By 1957 there were roughly 5000 DJ’s across America.

With limit airtime availability and the number of songs that were produced it was hard to hear many of these songs on the radio. DJ’s realized that this limited airplay could be beneficial to them, soon DJ”s started charging flat fees to play certain songs for certain amounts of time. Other DJ’s, however, would also ask for percentages of sales from certain concerts or even lavish vacations. This practice did not last long, accusations began to spread about DJ’s taking payments, but nothing could ever really be proven.The act of payola continued until a contestant named Charles Van Doren on the TV show Twenty One confessed to having been given the musical answers ahead of time by the host.

After the public’s outrage of his confession, the government stepped in and launched an investigation regarding payola. In 1959 before the U.S. House Oversight Committee, 335 disc jockeys from around the country admitted to having received over $263,000 in “consulting fees”. Although it seemed as if the payola scandal finished, the case was beginning for two specific DJ’s.

The first DJ at the center of the payola scandal was Alan Freed, know by his nickname Moondog he was famous for playing less popular Rhythm and Blues (R&B) songs on the radio, these songs, however, would later be known as Rock and Roll. Freed began in the radio industry after being convinced by the store owner of a record shop he worked at that he would be a good fit for radio. 

Soon after his popularity grew, he was offered a DJ spot on one of the radio stations in New York, which its success helped launch a career for him in television. When the government began their investigation Freed was one of the likely targets. Although Freed claimed to never took payments from any record companies he would not sign any documents from his radio station saying this was true. He eventually was dropped by the radio station, and after odd radio jobs in Los Angeles and Miami, he found himself back in New York facing multiple counts of bribery. He was found guilty and was facing many legal bills along with income tax evasion eventually died at the age of 46.

The second DJ found at the center of this controversy was Dick Clark. Much like Alan Freed, Clark was a popular radio host, known for his show American Bandstand with which he was able to help advance the careers of numerous artists. Eventually, in 1960 just like Freed, Clark found himself at the center of the Payola scandals. Clark had investments in some record companies, song publishing groups and artist management groups. He told Congress that he was unaware of disproportionate airtime for a specific artist, he eventually sold his shares of these companies.

Clark emerged from these trial practically unscathed and continued his career in the industry. After Freed went down in 1960, Congress amended the Federal Communications Act to outlaw “under-the-table payments and required broadcasters to disclose if airplay for a song is purchased.” Payola became a misdemeanor, with a penalty of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison.

After the government investigation and law changes, it seemed as if this practice would no longer occur and that all songs would be played equally on the radio. The sad truth of this that the practice of payola continues to this day. George Howard, former president of Rykodisc, wrote an article discussing how large labels to this day again practice the act of payola. He states that music labels will hire independent promoters that receive million dollar payments to align themselves with radio stations by promising promotional payments in the six-figure range. ALong with the increase of music streaming websites such as Spotify and Apple music have record labels paying large amounts of money to have their songs featured on these sites.

Although this practice is still used today it can never completely disappear people will always find away to pay to have their songs promoted or heard by more people. Personally, if an artist or record label is willing to pay the increasing amounts of money to have their songs heard they should be allowed to. Although this may be unfair to some smaller artists it is a business and no matter what industry you are in there will always be larger and smaller people.

References

Doyle, J. (2014, February 28). “Moondog Alan Freed”. Retrieved July 09, 2018, from http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/tag/alan-freed-payola/

Hutchinson, L. (2015, August 20). Alan Freed and the Radio Payola Scandal. Retrieved July 08, 2018, from http://performingsongwriter.com/alan-freed-payola-scandal/

Kelly, K. (2016, February 14). A Brief History of American Payola. Retrieved July 08, 2018, from https://noisey.vice.com/da/article/64y8y9/a-brief-history-of-american-payola

Messitte, N. (2014, November 30). How Payola Laws Keep Independent Artists Off Mainstream Radio. Retrieved July 10, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmessitte/2014/11/30/how-payola-laws-keep-independent-artists-off-mainstream-radio/#340fcdaa519f

Sherwin, A. (2015, August 20). Payola: One of music’s oldest arrangements back with a bang on streaming playlists. Retrieved July 12, 2018, from https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/payola-one-of-musics-oldest-arrangements-back-with-a-bang-on-streaming-playlists-10464513.html

T. (2017, April 27). Dick Clark Biography. Retrieved July 10, 2018, from https://www.biography.com/people/dick-clark-9249296

Photo References

Dick Clark. (n.d.). Retrieved July 15, 2018, from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163863/

History of Boston Rock and Roll. (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2018, from http://motherlode.tv/bostonrock/chapter3.html

Levine, D. S. (2016, October 20). Charles Van Doren: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know. Retrieved July 13, 2018, from https://heavy.com/news/2016/10/who-is-charles-van-doren-twenty-one-donald-trump-rigged-debate-hillary-clinton-rush-limbaugh-still-alive-quiz-show/