payola etymology

Etymology

The term "payola" is derived from two words:

• "Pay" (verb): To give money or equivalent in exchange for goods or services.
• "Victrola" (noun): A brand name for a record player, popular in the early 20th century.

Meaning

Payola refers to the illegal practice of paying for favorable publicity or promotion, typically in the music industry. It involves musicians, record executives, and disc jockeys engaging in financial transactions to ensure that certain songs or albums receive airplay, reviews, or other forms of promotion.

Origin

The term originated in the 1930s and 1940s during the Golden Age of Radio. Record companies and musicians began paying disc jockeys to play their music, hoping to increase record sales. In 1959, the FCC banned the practice of payola on the radio airwaves, making it a federal crime.

Significance

Payola has a long history and has been prevalent in various forms in the entertainment industry. It distorts the music market by favoring artists who can afford to pay for promotion, rather than based on their actual talent or popularity. It also undermines the credibility of disc jockeys and other music critics, as their decisions may be influenced by financial incentives.

payola relate terms

• payoff

  Etymology From Middle French paier off from payer to pay from Latin pacem facere t

• Pianola

  Etymology The word pianola is derived from two sources Piano The musical instrumen

• piano

  Etymology Piano is derived from the Italian word pianoforte which literally means so

• viola

  Etymology The word viola originates from the Latin word viola which itself is derive

• Victrola

  Etymology Victrola is an American brand name It was coined from the Latin word victor

• payola

  Etymology The term payola is derived from two words Pay verb To give money or e

• plug

  Etymology plug verb from Middle English pluggen pluggon probably from Middle Dutch

• bribe

  Etymology The word bribe comes from the Middle French word briber meaning to beg

• amen

  Etymology Amen originated from the Hebrew word ʾāmēn אָמֵן which is a transl

• bacteria

  Etymology Bacterial derives from the Greek word βακτήριον bakterion meani

• orphan

• idea

  Etymology The word idea is derived from the Greek word idein ἰδεῖν meaning

• zilch

  Etymology and Origin The word zilch originated in the German language where it was fir

• obliterate

  Etymology The word obliterate derives from the Latin verb obliterare meaning to blo

• malignant

  Etymology From Middle English malignant from Late Latin malignāns harmful mischiev