DJ caught in payola investigation

Entercom programmer has become the posterboy for Payola

Former top 40 WKSE (Kiss-FM) Buffalo, N.Y., PD Dave Universal says he feels like he has become the poster boy for payola.In an interview that aired Thursday evening (Feb. 16) on ABC News’ "Primetime," the deposed Entercom programmer defended the practices that led to his firing, saying that he was simply encouraged to make money for his employer. The ABC report expanded on the widespread investigation by New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer regarding alleged payola in both the record and broadcasting industries.Universal estimated that record companies typically paid about $100,000 a year to get songs played at Kiss-FM. "I did really well," he said. "I was Entercom's golden boy for a long time."

Billboard Radio Monitor, February 18, 2006