noun
Internet Slang
payola
pay-OH-luh · noun · informal
Secret payments for influence.
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Definitions
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Money paid, often covertly, to promote something — classically to get songs played on radio.
“The DJ got caught taking payola.”
by community
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payola In A Sentence
The DJ got caught taking payola.
Origin & Usage
Blend of 'pay' and the '-ola' suffix (as in Victrola/pianola), coined in the US mid-20th century.
People Also Ask
What does payola mean?
It's covert payment made to promote something, most famously bribing radio DJs to play certain records.
Where does the word 'payola' come from?
It's a blend of 'pay' with the '-ola' suffix seen in brand names like Victrola and pianola, coined in mid-20th-century America.
Is payola illegal?
Undisclosed payola in broadcasting is illegal in the US, which is why the term carries a scandalous connotation.
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