Fiifi Banson, influential radio presenter has admonished radio stations to pay their presenters properly, so they do not take payola from artistes.
Payola is a form of bribery where media personnel such as DJs are swayed to illegally or unofficially promote services, usually songs on air. Some record labels engage in this illegal activity so the songs of their artistes can make waves.
Speaking on Onua FM’s ‘Anigye Mmre’ with Christian Agyei Frimpong, he said, “Owners of radio stations have cheated radio presenters for long. When you don’t pay them well, people will influence them with GH¢200 Payola and they will begin to play any song on air because you are not paying them well.”
He also confessed that he had collected payola in times past. However, if DJs and other radio presenters are paid accordingly, they will not be enticed by payola.