What term describes monetary and other favors given to DJs in exchange for airplay?

• A. Bribery
• B. Payola
• C. Kickbacks
• D. Sponsorship

Answer: (B)

Payola describes monetary and other favors given to radio DJs or program directors in exchange for airplay of specific records. This illicit practice aims to influence what gets played on the radio, bypassing genuine chart merit or audience demand. It became a famous issue in mid-20th-century broadcasting and led to regulations that require disclosure and prohibit undisclosed payments. While bribery is the broad idea of offering something to influence a decision, payola is the industry-specific term for paying for radio airplay. A kickback is a return of money or favors in a deal, but it isn’t the standard term used to describe payments to influence a playlist. Sponsorship involves legitimate funding in exchange for exposure, not covert payments to DJs to manipulate airplay.