Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Will Spitzer continue his payola probe ???

The biggest question remaining in the race for Governor of New York State is, will Eliot Spitzer wear the dark blue suit with pinstripes or the one without at his inauguration? As Attorney General, Spitzer has been prosecuting payola-related crimes in his jurisdiction by fining SONY BMG, Warner Music and Universal Music to the tune of a collective $27 million out of court. Chump change for those deemed guilty under the FCC regulations on payola. And what, might you ask are those regulations ? Read on...

In layman's terms, here is the gist of the rules on payola, straight from the source, the Federal Communications Commission: Federal law, including Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, requires that employees of broadcast stations, program producers, program suppliers and others who have accepted or agreed to receive payments, services, or other valuable consideration for airing material must disclose this fact. Disclosure provides broadcasters the information they need to let their audiences know if material was paid for, and by whom". The FCC then follows with the specific rules and requirements. For those interested you can click on http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/PayolaRules.html . Clearly and again in layman's terms, you can't play for pay. At least without admitting it...

The payola rules came into effect following the payola scandals of the late 50's when several disc jockeys paid for their play for pay, in fines, jail time and by getting fired. The biggest name in this whole mess was Alan Freed, so in effect the rule was conceived because of the payola he received for playing records for pay, not a crime at that time but the FCC would make sure it was. On September 13th, 1960 the FCC adopted the payola rules...

The big question is, will Governor Spitzer continue his probe or was it a campaign tool to help get him elected ??? Stand by...

Ten Timeline Memories...

1. [1788] The Constitutional Convention decides that the 1st federal election will be held on a Wednesday the following February. On that day George Washington is elected our 1st President. New York City is named the temporary national capital...
2. [1948] Republican Margaret Chase Smith of Maine is elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming the 1st woman to serve in both houses of Congress...
3. [1965] On the day that "Yesterday" is released, the Beatles win their 1st Grammy for "Best Group of 1964". Louis Armstrong wins for "Best Male Vocalist" for his chart topper, "Hello Dolly"...
4. [1969] John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Plastic Ono Band makes its debut at the Toronto Rock Revival Festival which stars Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Gene Vincent, The Doors and Alice Cooper. Jerry Lee Lewis pulls out at the last minute because of a bad throat...
5. [1970] The 1st New York City Marathon is won by Freeport (LI) firefighter Gary Muhrcke. A total of 175 runners were at the starting line but only 55 finish the race which was 4 laps around Central Park and see ya later, no TV, no big bucks and prizes. Today the race covers 5 boroughs. This years' race will be on November 5th...
6. [1971] A 4-day inmates' rebellion at the Attica Correctional Facility in upstate New York ends as police and guards storm the prison. The ordeal and final assault claims 43 lives...
7. [1989] Fay Vincent is named commissioner of baseball, succeeding the late A. Bart Giamatti...
8. [1993] Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO chairman Yasser Arafat shake hands on an accord granting limited Palestinian autonomy...
9. [1998] "Frasier" wins a record 5th consecutive Emmy as TV's "Best Comedy Series"...
10. [2001] U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell names Osama bin Laden the prime suspect in the terrorist attacks of 911. Limited commercial flights are restored for the 1st time since the attacks...

"Happy Trails": 1996] Rapper Tupac Shakur dies 6 days after being shot in a drive-by shooting, at 25...1998] Former Alabama Governor George C. Wallace dies of Parkinson's disease, at 79...

"Wedding Bells": 1963] Barbra Streisand and Elliot Gould walk down the aisle in a ceremony that was "just like buttuh" (the buttuh turns to cheese after 4 years)...

Premiered on this date: 1993] "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (in 2009 O'Brien will replace Jay Leno)...

#1 on this date: 1962] "Sherry" - Four Seasons...

[To ensure accuracy of dates and content, multiple reference sources are used in the timeline]...

"Happy Birthday...happy birthday"...

Bernie Williams (38), Zak (son of Ringo) Starkey (41), Former Chicago leader Peter Cetera (62), Jacqueline Bisset (62), Blood, Sweat & Tears' lead singer David Clayton-Thomas (65) and TV mogul Fred Silverman (69)...

Timeline Countdown: 21 days until the major league baseball playoffs, 109 days until 2007 and The Mets Magic Number is now: 3

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