Franz in Payola row

Take Me Out pushed by US record company

02 Aug 05 - It's emerged that Franz Ferdinand have become embroiled in the US radio pay-to-play controversy.

New York state's Attorney General is holding a year long enquiry into the practice, which involves record labels offering radio stations lucrative prizes for listeners, and even holidays for station executives in return for playing their songs.

Now it seems Franz's breakthrough hit Take Me Out is one of the songs given a push by Epic Records in the States.

Apparently Epic's promotional department paid more than $4,000 for a trip to Miami for Buffalo station WKSE's then programming director and three friends for playlisting Take Me Out.

"Compared to the 50s, 60s and 70s anything that goes on now is tame."
Franz manager

Franz Ferdinand's manager Cerne Canning told the Music Week paper he's disappointed their name has emerged, but says radio play is "only a part of the picture" for their US success.

He also said: "Compared to the fifties, sixties and seventies, anything that goes on now is tame."

Tracks by other bands, including Audioslave and Good Charlotte, also featured in the enquiry, which resulted in Sony BMG agreeing to pay $10m as a settlement.

Lucy O'Doherty