He said the latest version of payola involved people at the highest corporate level of record labels and radio broadcasting companies. "It is certainly the case that payola has been a part of the promotional structure for many of the artists who are out there," Spitzer told ABC News. They benefited from what New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer called payola. While the songs became hugely popular, it took more than just popularity and talent to get them played on the radio. "I think back in the '70s, they used to pay people with hookers and cocaine, and now they're just doing it with straight-up money - so they can go out and buy their own hookers and cocaine." E-mails Tell the StoryĪccording to music industry documents, payments to radio stations in a variety of forms have helped launch some of the country's best-known hits and Grammy winners, including last year's Grammy winner for song of the year, "Daughters," by John Mayer, and last year's best new artist Grammy winner, Maroon 5. "I think that's been going on a really, really long time," said Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Others were also not surprised that payola still existed. People are trying to get what they want done, and they'll pay for it if they've got the money, sure." Apple added that she did not know if payola was responsible for getting any of her work on the airwaves. Grammy nominee Fiona Apple told ABC News, "It's a business about money. It costs a lot of money to make something famous." When asked if he believed if payola still existed in the industry, veteran artist Tony Bennett said, "Absolutely.
Payola was a multimillion-dollar secret that was out in the open at last week's Grammy festivities in Los Angeles, where a number of recording artists on the red carpet said it was an unfortunate part of the industry. "It cost something close to $700,000 to $800,000 to get 'Closing Time' on the air," said Slichter, "to keep it on the air long enough for people, for public taste to really grab on to it, yeah. ‘Feeling Strangely Fine (20th Anniversary Edition)’ is available now.Payola, what many authorities would call bribes, is money and gifts that record companies and middlemen give to radio stations to play songs. And since I’ve, probably, heard them all, I thought it a good idea to share three of my faves. And as with most classics that soundtrack our lives, “Closing Time” has been covered many times over. However you’ve interpreted the song over the years, one thing is certain. I run into people all the time who tell me, “Oh I worked in this one bar for four years and I heard your song every single night.” And with another quote, Wilson explained to The Hollywood Reporter, “I really thought that that was the greatest destiny for “Closing Time,” that it would be used by all the bartenders, and it was actually. I’ve heard this at closing-time in bars from LA, NYC to Berlin and many spots in-between. I say mostly because I’m not the only one who has taken this track literally.
Then, I got home.Īfter some digging I found this quote from Wilson, “It’s all about being born and coming into the world, seeing the bright lights, cutting the cord, opening up into something deeper and more universal,”
We argued with both sides claiming victory. An ode to the last call, turn out the lights the party’s over… Recently, at a holiday gathering, a mate and I were discussing the virtues of 90s rock and he started to explain that this track was actually about songwriter Dan Wilson anticipating his first child. True story, I, for the last couple of decades, have taken this classic at face value. From their seminal album ‘Feeling Strangely Fine’. The song is “Closing Time” by Minneapolis’ Semisonic. But one song, in particular, would go on to be a late night anthem for the ages.
Everlast, Garbage, Cake, and New Radicals were all riding high, and your car stereo couldn’t get enough. Semisonic – ‘Feeling Strangely Fine (20th Anniversary Edition)’ is available now iTunes.ġ998 was a phenomenal year for alt-rock.