payola

American  

[pey-oh-luh] / peɪˈoʊ lə /

noun

Informal.

1. a secret or private payment in return for the promotion of a product, service, etc., through the abuse of one's position, influence, or facilities.

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payola British  

/ peɪˈəʊlə /

noun

1. a bribe given to secure special treatment, esp to a disc jockey to promote a commercial product

2. the practice of paying or receiving such bribes

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Etymology

Origin of payola

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; pay ¹ + -ola

Example Sentences

“It’s what we would have historically called payola,” said NIL professor and lawyer Robert Boland, a former college athlete.

From Salon

In papers filed in New York, Drake’s company, Frozen Moments LLC, accused the companies of engaging in an illegal ”scheme” involving bots, payola and other methods to promote Lamar’s song.

From BBC

There remain battles to be fought, whisper campaigns to be hatched, payola scandals to be investigated.

From Los Angeles Times

Gravani has kept up with the various federal investigations into “payola,” as she puts it, at City Hall.

From Los Angeles Times

“It has made raiding schools, raiding their programs very much a possibility. And particularly with NIL benefit to it, it is unrestricted free agency with payola.”

From Washington Post