Payola was the term used for the illegal practice of paying radio broadcasters to play certain CDs, so that the CDs would become more popular and therefore make more profits for the record company.
[US]
payola in British English
(peɪˈəʊlə)
noun informal, mainly US
1.
a bribe given to secure special treatment, esp to a disc jockey to promote a commercial product
2.
the practice of paying or receiving such bribes
Word origin
C20: from pay1 + -ola, as in Pianola
payola in American English
(peɪˈoʊlə)
US
noun Informal
1.
the practice of paying bribes or graft for commercial advantage or special favors, as to a disc jockey for promoting one recording over others
2.
this kind of bribe or graft
Word origin
pay1 + -ola, as in Pianola (former trademark for a player piano) > Tin Pan Alley pianola, slang term for the music business
Examples of 'payola' in a sentence
payola
Any payola arrangements, if they were made, were left to Artie.