The FCC is looking into whether DJs at some of Rio Grande Valley’s most popular Spanish-language radio stations have accepted cash or gifts in exchange for guaranteeing radio airplay to certain bands or record labels.
The Monitor reports investigators have met with certain radio personalities and station managers. The FCC is not saying which stations are being targeted.
By law, radio stations must disclose on the air if they receive payment in exchange for the promise of airplay. If they don’t, it is considered a federal crime punishable by up to one year in prison. Additionally, a station can be fined up to $10,000 per violation.