House Subcommittee on Legislative Oversight

TheHouse Subcommittee on Legislative Oversightwas a special subcommittee of theHouse Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce,responsible for the oversight of federal regulatory agencies such as theFederal Communications Commission.During the86th Congressin 1959, the subcommittee was chaired by RepresentativeOren Harris,a Democrat fromArkansas.The subcommittee is famous for its hearings regardingpayolaand thequiz show scandals of the 1950s.The investigations conducted led to regulation in thebroadcast industry.

Proceedings

The special subcommittee investigated thequiz show scandalsand the issue ofpayola.The aforementioned scandal involved rigged televisedquiz showswhich were portrayed as legitimate throughout the 1950s, while payola is the act of paying radio stations ordisc jockeysto get them to play or promote certain songs.^[1]The investigations began in 1959 and continued into 1960.^[2]The subcommittee was led byOren Harris,who first ordered an investigation into quiz shows in October 1959. The hearings attracted much interest from the media and the public. First, the subcommittee sent attorneyRichard N. Goodwinto serve subpoenas to central figures in the quiz show scandals. Goodwin was said to have terrorized and threatened those he was serving.^[3]

Quiz show hearings

Harris was rumored to have been embroiled in aconflict of interestregarding his financial ties to a television station in his home state of Arkansas. According to speculation, Harris started his pursuit of such stations to clean up his image. The hearings were "standing room only" political theatre.^[3]

In 1959 the subcommittee began hearings on the irregularities regarding quiz shows.Charles Van Dorentestified at the hearing and admitted that he cheated, explaining that it made for better entertainment. Van Doren stated that he was coached in how to make his behaviors more dramatic. He also admitted that he was given questions in order to beat the reigning championHerb StempelonTwenty-One.Van Doren also said that the show allowed him to lose after 15 weeks at his request.^[4]

Payola hearings

The subcommittee's first hearings intopayolain the music industry were held from February to May 1960. The subcommittee concluded that 255 disc jockeys spanning 42 cities collected a combined $263,000 in bribes.^[5]President Eisenhowercalled it "an issue of public morality". TheFederal Communications Commissionproposed to make it a crime to be involved in payola.^[1]

Wesley Hopkins, a Cleveland DJ, admitted that he had received $12,000 from record companies in 1958 and 1959. The main concern of the subcommittee was a matter of public trust.^[1]In another form of payola, DJs would get a songwriting credit, allowing them to receive royalties so that they would be encouraged to play the song.^[6]The reputation of Cleveland DJAlan Freedwas damaged by the hearings.^[1]

Outcome

As a result of the quiz show investigations, Charles Van Doren pled guilty toperjury.^[7]In 1962,Elfrida von Nardroffpled guilty to second-degree perjury. Twelve other former quiz show contestants were also arrested in the scandal.^[8]

Payola was made illegal in 1960. In December 1962, after being charged on multiple counts ofcommercial bribery,DJ Alan Freed pled guilty to two counts of commercial bribery and was fined $300 and given a suspended sentence.^[9]^[10]

The investigations led to federal regulation of the broadcasting industry.^[2]The Communications Act Amendments of 1960 (S 1898) called for more regulation of the broadcasting industry. The rigging of game shows was made a federal crime and the FCC was given greater authority. Additionally, any payola had to be disclosed.^[11]

Some artists claim that the practice of payola still exists.Jacob Slichter,the drummer for the bandSemisonic,said in 2006 that payola was how they turned their song "Closing Time"into a hit. Slichter stated:" It cost something close to $700,000 to $800,000 to get 'Closing Time' on the air. "^[12]In a 2019Rolling Stonearticle, Elias Right reported that payola never went away and has instead become more sophisticated.^[13]The investigation found that to get songs on the air, companies pay by other means than cash, such as plane tickets, sports tickets and shoes. Record companies also pay for advertising time on the radio and purchase billboards for those radio stations and merchandise like T-shirts. Payola also takes the form of artist appearances and or performances.^[13]

References

^^a ^b ^c ^d"The Payola scandal heats up".History.A&E Television Networks, LLC.Archivedfrom the original on 14 January 2022.Retrieved14 January2022.
^^a ^bLight, Paul Charles (2014).Government by investigation: Congress, presidents, and the search for answers, 1945-2012.Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution.ISBN 978-0-8157-2268-7.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2022.Retrieved13 January2022.
^^a ^bSharp, Kathleen (2013).Mr. and Mrs. Hollywood: Edie and Lew Wasserman and Their Entertainment Empire.Boulder: Blackstone Publishing.ISBN 978-1-6206-4774-5.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2022.Retrieved13 January2022.
^Murray, Michael (1999).Encyclopedia of television news.Phoenix, Ariz.: Oryx Press. p. 201.ISBN 1-57356-108-8.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2022.Retrieved13 January2022.
^Gaar, Gillian G. (1992).She's a rebel: the history of women in rock & roll.Seal Press. Seattle, Wash.: Seal Press.ISBN 1878067087.OCLC 25873844.
^"Alan Freed".New York Times.October 14, 1999.Archivedfrom the original on February 8, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 4,2021.
^Barnes, Nick (20 April 2017)."Albert Freedman, Central Figure in the Quiz Show Scandals of the 1950s, Dies at 95".The Hollywood Reporter.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved12 January2022.
^Sandomir, Richard (December 15, 2021)."Elfrida von Nardroff, 96, Dies; Won Big Money on a Fixed Quiz Show".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on December 28, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 14,2022.
^"Alan Freed".Rockabilly Hall of Fame.June 10, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 3,2021.
^"November 21, 1959: Alan Freed, Originator of the Term" Rock and Roll "is Fired from His Job as a DJ!".History and Headline.November 21, 2014.Archivedfrom the original on December 14, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 4,2021.
^"Congress Tightens Broadcasting Regulations".Congress Tightens Broadcasting Regulations.Washington, DC: Congressional Quarterly.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2022.Retrieved13 January2022.
^Ross, Brian; Walter, Vic (16 February 2006)."Paying to Make It to the Top of the Charts".ABC News Internet Ventures.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
^^a ^bLeight, Elias (6 August 2019)."Want to Get on the Radio? Have $50,000?".Rolling Stone, LLC.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.