Clear Channel Radio Fires Only Two After Payola Probe

NY State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s radio payola probe continues, but Clear Channel announced it has fired two employees following an internal investigation. Industry insiders believe it is unlikely that Clear Channel’s would have fired anyone without the Spitzer investigation. They also speculate that given the scope of the investigation, the size of Clear Channels staff, and the fact that many possibly illegal practices were widespread throughout the industry, only two firings is either just an initial salvo or more likely an attempt to take as little action as possible while appearing to put the situation behind them. 

Either way with Indy labels still claiming limited access to programmers has much actually changed or has the payola game just gotten more sophisticated or gone back underground?

Read the LA Times story on the firings here.