The Spitzer payola probe continues...with songs from artists like Jennifer Lopez and John Mayer being I.D.ed as benificiaries of payola payments. Via Newsday.com:

The companies that have received subpoenas control thousands of stations nationwide, including Clear Channel Communications Inc., Infinity, which now operates as CBS Radio, Citadel Broadcasting Corp., Cox Radio Inc., Cumulus Broadcasting Inc., Pamal Broadcasting Ltd., Entercom Communications Corp., Emmis Communications Corp. and ABC Inc., according to court records filed by Spitzer.

Two major recording companies agreed last year to settle their parts of the investigation. Warner Music Group Corp. said it would pay $5 million, and Sony BMG Music Entertainment agreed to pay $10 million.

The probe involves Jennifer Lopez's "I'm Real" and John Mayer's song "Daughters." Songs by other artists are also being examined, including those by Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, Maroon 5, Good Charlotte, Franz Ferdinand, Switchfoot, Michelle Branch and R.E.M. Artists and writers are not targets, Spitzer's office said. In fact, they have supported the probe and provided several complaints that assistant investigators.

Switchfoot? I KNEW that there had to be a reasonable explanation for SWITCHFOOT... Not to mention Jessica Simpson.

Find the full Newsday piece here. And for more details on the alledged payola hijinks, check out The Daily Caveat's past coverage of the story.

-- MDT

Labels: Eliot Spitzer