I’ve long suspected that labels pay radio stations to ceaselessly play a band or ‘artists’ latest single until it has sufficiently seeped into the public’s consciousness and we’re all out buying the last Jake Bugg album or whatever despite it being viciously annoying. If you’re made to listen to Absolute Radio all day as I am, for example, you’re subjected to the same bands/songs on a daily basis – the new Artic Monkeys, new Arcade Fire, new Killers etc…

Despite thinking they’re pretty shit on the first few listens, I get to know the song, go home and perhaps listen to the rest of the album on Spotify, maybe buy the album and get tickets to see them live, but ultimately a lot of radio serves as part of a concerted marketing push, right?

Are radio stations paid to play particular singles, basically?