In RJ Smith's James Brown bio, he writes how, while touring the Chitlin Circuit (blacks only club circuit during the era of Jim Crow), he helped refined payola to the radio DJs who were paid under the table to play certain records. Anybody who has read "Hitmen" or remembers Alan Freed will hardly be shocked by this.
What Brown helped do was make the DJs promoters of the concerts, thereby giving them a cut of the door and ensuring the DJs had a financial reason to promote the artists latest single.
I would not be vaguely surprised to learn that something similar was happening today and since 100 units sold can get you in the album Top 50, it is inconceivable that somebody somewhere is doing just that.
However, making money in such a dramatic fashion from an acts success? That is a little touchier.
Which leads me to Pitchfork's Music Festivals. Where top indie acts perform at three day festivals promoted by Pitchfork. And Pitchfork make lots and lots of money.
Except that nobody is questioning Pitchfork's integrity,. How is this different than radio DJs on the Chitlin' Circuit? Pitchfork is making direct financial profit off bands they are writing about. And have a vested interest in the bands that play. In 2010, rapper Freddie Gibbs became Pitchfork's rapper de jour after he agreed to play the Fest. Freddie was never mentioned before.
Were they paying Freddie off?
It isn't quite that direct, but maybe more like with Gibb's agreement to perform at the Fest, Pitchfork became more aware of his music and therefore covered it more. they knew his manager and tour manager, who might call em and say, 'Hey, wanna post this exclusive new song?'
But it appears wrong. It has the semblance of impropriety and qui pro quo and there is huge money in it. Let's say there is an average price of $50 per ticker at Union Park in Chicago and 100,000 tickets available and you can see how important it is to the music website. Those sort of figures change your business at a glance. They are expanding it as well.
How can you trust Pitchfork with that much money at stake? Do you trust them at all? It doesn't matter if there is nothing said between festival organizers and editorial staff, still… it is just too close.