EMI Records

'Our investigation shows that contrary to listener expectations that songs are selected for airplay based on artistic merit and popularity, airtime is often determined by undisclosed payoffs to radio stations and their employees.

This agreement is a model for breaking the pervasive influence of bribes in the industry.' Spitzer had requested documents and information from EMI, Warner Music Group, Vivendi Universal, SAS Universal Music Group, as well as from Sony BMG, which is a joint venture of Sony Corporations and Bertelsmann AG.

Spitzer said his investigation showed Sony BMG paid for vacation packages and electronics for radio programmers, paid for-" contestant giveaways for listeners, paid some operational expenses of radio stations and hired middlemen known as independent promoters to provide illegal payments to radio stations to get more airplay for its artists.

Spitzer also said emails among company executives showed top officials were aware of the payments.

As with all the investigations, the music company does not acknowledge guilt, but does admit, [laughs] but does admit individuals were partaking in illegal practices.

UMG will also pay $100,000 to cover the cost of the investigation.

Spitzer's office said that the investigation continues, and all eyes are on EMI.

Spitzer sued Intercom Communications earlier this year, accusing the radio company's personnel of accepting cash payments for airplay.

Our theme song is Black, used with the permission of John Batiste.

Our end credits theme is Power to the People by John Lennon, courtesy of EMI Records and used with permission of the John Lennon Estate.

Agitation Nation is hosted by David Fenton.

Producing, editing, and announcing by me, R.R. Robbins.

You know, I'm sure that was the, they were literally on an airplane.

Rupert Perry and Bobby Columbia, drummer of Brunt Sweat and Tears, A&R guys, are literally on a plane coming to Toronto, then to come to Montreal to see the band with Dean Cameron from EMI Records in Canada, who was kind of in charge of the band because he was Canada.

And when they arrived in Toronto, Dean had to say, sorry, guys, they don't want you in your session.

what the fuck what we're not aware of this right god right just a catastrophe and and they just got they got right back in the airplane when they got back to the tower in la they said nah we pass yeah and that was it and then you know we we kind of continued but there was a lot of money at stake at that point who made the who made that guy the producer

It was fun talking to the Guster guys.

You know, recently in this radio station, I don't know who, but someone who worked for EMI Records, Brendan, the hedgehog, the head hog here, he sent out a message to all the DJs and programmers and people that work here.

We just got a thousand CDs and you just come on in.

And I was here before the text went through.

It was funny, it was sad, it was exhilarating.

But executives from EMI Records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US demanded that it be edited for radio.

So you know what happened? Freddie Mercury slipped a copy of the song to London DJ Kenny Everett, who played it something like 14 times over the course of a couple of days.

And then listeners, they decided.

Our theme song is Black, used with permission of John Batiste.

Our end credits theme is Power to the People by John Lennon, courtesy of EMI Records and used with permission of the John Lennon Estate.

Agitation Nation is hosted by David Fenton.

Producing, editing, and announcing by me, R.R. Robbins.