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Two Fired In Payola Probe
Clear Channel Communications has fired two employees for “wrongdoing” and disciplined an unspecified number of others for “inappropriate conduct” as a result of an internal payola investigation.
The actions follow a settlement between New York Atty. Gen. Eliot Spitzer and
The company declined to identify employees affected by the investigation.
“We take this issue very seriously and our policy is clear: If you engage in pay-for-play, you cannot work for Clear Channel,” Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan said. “We believe the vast majority of our programmers are doing a terrific job, fully within the law.”
Programmers and general managers will receive additional training on anti-payola policies. Also, the payola affidavits that are signed annually by programmers are being updated to be more explicit in outlining what constitutes payola, Clear Channel said.