By now you've noticed the radio stations playing the same songs several times a day. Even the "cool" stations that play great modern and alternative music don't stray too far from a select play list. One of the reasons is that a form of "payola" still exists.

Record companies hire "independent" promoters to go around and "influence" what the radio stations are playing. It costs tens of thousands of dollars to hire one of these promoters to push a single song. Its no secret that these promoters have influence and some make annual payments to certain radio stations and claim the payments don't influence play lists. If you believe that, I have a large bridge in New York I'd like to sell you.

Things may change if New York Attorney General Elliot Spitzer has his way. Spitzer is investigating the practice of hiring middlemen to influence which songs are heard on the radio. Spitzer's office has sent subpoenas to the largest record companies who control some 90+ percent of what we hear on the radio. Consolidation of all the music industry power into a few companies has already limited what he hear on the radio and see on television. Hopefully, the playing field can be leveled a bit for deserving indie artists looking for some much needed radio play.