A Presenter of Channel R, 92.7 FM, an Accra-based radio station, Agyeman Prempeh, has threatened to take on a fellow presenter for failing to promote a song he was paid to promote.
Spilling the beans on Channel R�s 205 entertainment programme on Wednesday, December 30, Agyeman described the presenter, who is with Adom 106.3 FM, as a gentle and well-dressed guy, but declined to disclose his identity.
He said he sent a CD of his new gospel duo called Kojo-Kojo to the presenter to play, but he did not play it and instead requested for �payola�. According to him, the presenter kept calling him for the money till he paid him an undisclosed amount, expressing dismay that even after collecting the money, the presenter has failed to honour his part of the bargain.
Agyemang said he was ready to mention the presenter�s name but said he would do so only when he is pushed to the wall. �I thought he is a noble man because he looks gentle, yes, but the moment he took the money from me and failed to play my song, I realized he was not gentle after all,� he told News-One in an exclusive interview.
�The thing is payola, and I need physical evidence to prove. But between him and me, we know there is a verbal agreement or contract. And I can easily take him on if I want. Like I said on the show, I will expose him if any payola issue comes up and he comes out to flex his muscles.�
The revelation by Agyemang surprised some industry moguls as a couple of years ago; Jerry Justice was reported to have said that presenters at the Tema-based radio station do not take payola. Jerry told Daily Guide�s Beatwaves that measures at Adom FM prevents anybody there from taking payola.
He said the station has set up a committee, headed by programme manager, Daddy Bosco and Abeiku Santana, to take care of songs that are played, adding that it is not a presenter�s sole decision to play a song on air.
He said the committee sits and listens to any CD that comes to the station and decides whether it should go on air or not.
Daddy Bosco, who also confirmed the existence of the said committee to the paper, assured that if any song is smuggled on air, he would investigate.
According to him, whatever action he would take if any presenter of Adom FM takes payola and smuggles a song on air, is a decision he would not put in public domain.
Asked if he would challenge Agyemang to mention the present involved, Bosco said he did not listen to Agyemang and could therefore not jump to any hasty conclusion or comment on it.
<<Print>>