payola

[ pey-oh-luh ]

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.

payola

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of payola¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of payola¹

C20: from pay ¹+ -ola, as in Pianola

Example Sentences

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

From Los Angeles Times

It's not just the payola, but what it represents: an imperious court stacked with far-right justices who have become petty tyrants.

From Salon

Unfortunately, the show mostly skims over the fact that in addition to hobnobbing with Levy — they both eventually went down for payola — Freed overindulged in booze and women.

From New York 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