Everything has a price and as many bands have come to learn, getting your song played on the radio is as easy as sending a program director off on an expensive vacation, giving away concert tickets, or just plain cash. These practices are hardly fair nor ethical to smaller bands trying to carve their niche in the market. Laws have been passed banning such "payola" schemes," but somehow, the record companies behind bands like Good Charlotte and Franz Ferdinand are able to side step best practices and have their music chosen for airplay over others. The days of "Jack FM" could be upon us soon and all the "self-promotion" could go the way of the cassette tape. Source: Newsday

Also, check out the June 12 posting of "How Do Songs Get Radio Play?"