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Kim Komando Daily Tech Update

Spotify: Is payola back?

28 Jan 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

0.031 - 16.47 Kim Komando

Hey there, it's Kim, of course. Right after today's Daily Tech Update, I'm going to have a special surprise for you. It's a clip from my other podcast. It's called The Current. It's packed with great tech news that you expect, just a little bit more relaxed. I think you're really going to love it. Just think of it as your tech coffee break.

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17.311 - 38.382 Kim Komando

There was a major radio station scandal back in the 1950s called Paola. Major record labels secretly paid radio DJs to play their songs on the air, making those songs seem very popular, when in reality, they were being artificially promoted, deceiving the public. Many DJs were fired. Congress passed laws that are still in effect today. But that was 70 years ago. So why does this matter now?

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38.863 - 48.996 Kim Komando

Hang on. I'm Kim Commando with Improved Life. I created GLP-1 support to manage cravings, support metabolism, and keep blood sugar on track. Find out more at ImprovedLife.com slash Kim.

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Chapter 2: What was the original payola scandal in the music industry?

49.016 - 68.8 Kim Komando

The anti-payola laws affected radio stations only. In November, thousands of Spotify customers filed a class-action lawsuit claiming that Spotify's algorithm for its discovery mode, where customers are supposed to hear personalized recommendations of new music, is actually being driven by money paid by the label or the artist to Spotify without saying so.

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68.78 - 88.088 Kim Komando

Now, if that's true, then it's not personal and customers were misled. And that's the question. Is payola back? Get my newsletter at getkim.com. You don't want to miss this. I'm going to play a bite-sized sample of The Current. It's my other podcast where we dive into all things tech, trends, and life online. I think you're really going to love it.

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88.169 - 107.258 Kim Komando

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Chapter 3: How did the payola scandal impact radio DJs and legislation?

107.238 - 122.648 Kim Komando

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122.628 - 138.341 Kim Komando

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Chapter 4: Why is the payola scandal relevant to today's music streaming?

138.702 - 163.485 Kim Komando

Right now, get 50% off Carbonite when you go to Carbonite.com slash Kim. That's Carbonite.com slash Kim. Live a better digital life with Carbonite. Two-thirds of all babies under the age of two watch YouTube. Yeah, that absolutely checks out. And experts say that it's tied to delayed language development. Unless you're narrating like Mr. Rogers.

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163.966 - 187.093 Unknown

But I don't... That doesn't connect with me because... you're consuming more language than ever. I mean, if you didn't have, if a child was not watching YouTube videos, I guess if it's just music and colors and stuff like that, maybe Einstein or something. But if it was something with dialogue, I would hope it would push that forward. Or, you know, what's the other, Baby Shark?

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187.113 - 192.137 Unknown

Yeah, most viewed video ever on YouTube. Okay, that's a lot of language development like that.

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Chapter 5: What allegations are being made against Spotify's algorithm?

192.358 - 196.721 Unknown

Right. You learn about Mommy Shark and Daddy Shark and Grammy Shark.

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197.502 - 198.743 Unknown

She has no teeth.

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200.044 - 213.696 Kim Komando

Could you imagine baby's first words? Like and subscribe, please. It helps the channel. Hey, chat.

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213.716 - 215.998 Unknown

The current podcast powered by Kim Commando.

216.278 - 227.214 Kim Komando

We'll be right back. Oh, God, you're so stupid. but funny.

227.394 - 227.674

Thank you.

228.455 - 233.983 Kim Komando

Alphabet's Wing is adding 150 more Walmart stores for drone delivery. That's cool. Yes.

Chapter 6: How does Spotify's discovery mode work for music recommendations?

234.083 - 240.432 Kim Komando

So, Dallas, Atlanta, and Houston, they say within a couple of years, they're going to serve 40 million Americans.

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240.452 - 249.244 Unknown

Now, we have one here in Peoria, but I believe the range is, Peoria is a suburb of Phoenix. Yeah. The range is very limited because I never, I have the Walmart,

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Chapter 7: What are the implications of payola in the age of streaming?

249.224 - 257.496 Unknown

I did an endorsement for them and they just give me the Walmart subscription for free so I can get free delivery. And it's never been an option. And I'm not that far from Peoria.

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Chapter 8: What are the listeners' thoughts on the return of payola?

257.516 - 262.764 Kim Komando

I don't think it's going so well. No, no. Amazon's is not doing well in Phoenix.

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262.905 - 263.345 Unknown

Okay.

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263.365 - 266.81 Kim Komando

They're out towards Buckeye. I understand that they're having big trouble. Okay. Out there.

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266.871 - 268.173 Unknown

Buckeye, another suburb of Phoenix.

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268.193 - 272.038 Kim Komando

So what do you think are the top things that people order by drones?

272.86 - 287.741 Unknown

Groceries? I mean, is it that generic? Yeah, it's groceries. But figure out what kind of groceries. More specific? Yes. peanut butter. No. No, bananas. We did a story on the show this week. That's the number one thing. Yeah, there's bananas. Delivered through apps is bananas.

287.801 - 295.633 Kim Komando

Okay, but specifically Walmart is eggs, avocados, ground beef, and takis.

296.103 - 307.95 Unknown

All right, but you know what? Three natural whole foods there and then a little Takis thrown at the end. I didn't know what Takis were. You don't know what a Taki is? No, I had to look it up. You had to look it up? I did. You had to tell your chat pod? Yeah, I'm like, what's a Taki? Show me a picture of a Taki?

307.97 - 309.473 Kim Komando

It's all kinds of like chips and stuff.

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