Definition: Payola, or the Payola Scandal, came to a head in the 1960s when DJ Alan Freed (the man who coined the term, "Rock and Roll") and 8 other disc-jockeys were accused of taking money in exchange for record airplay.

Today, technically, it is perfectly legal to accept money for playing a record on the Radio AS LONG as you publicly disclose you have or will do so.

But, Radio companies still do not encourage employees to do that and almost always insist new employees sign documents declaring their personal business interests in any Radio or record company, whether they have accepted any money on behalf of either, etc.

Since the Payola Scandal of the late 1950s and early 1960s, record companies and record promoters have found various ways to legally get around current payola laws in promoting their music, songs and artists.