Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged with keyword "payola"

1. Ray (I) (2004)

PG-13 | 152 min | Biography, Drama, Music

The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.

Director: Taylor Hackford | Stars: Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell

Votes: 157,488 | Gross: $75.33M

2. Dreamgirls (2006)

PG-13 | 130 min | Drama, Music, Musical

A trio of black female soul singers cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960s, facing their own personal struggles along the way.

Director: Bill Condon | Stars: Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover

Votes: 77,325 | Gross: $103.37M

3. A Face in the Crowd (1957)

Approved | 126 min | Drama, Music

A female radio reporter turns a folk-singing drifter into a powerful media star.

Director: Elia Kazan | Stars: Andy Griffith, Patricia Neal, Anthony Franciosa, Walter Matthau

Votes: 17,170

4. Cadillac Records (2008)

R | 109 min | Biography, Drama, Music

Chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists.

Director: Darnell Martin | Stars: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyoncé, Columbus Short

Votes: 23,147 | Gross: $8.20M

5. The Idolmaker (1980)

PG | 117 min | Biography, Drama, Music

Based on the life of rock promoter/producer Bob Marcucci, who discovered, among others, Frankie Avalon and Fabian.

Director: Taylor Hackford | Stars: Ray Sharkey, Tovah Feldshuh, Peter Gallagher, Paul Land

Votes: 1,508

6. Telling Lies in America (1997)

PG-13 | 101 min | Drama, Music

A loner befriends a local celebrity, Billy Magic, but he soon begins to tell lies in order to maintain the friendship and the newfound status.

Director: Guy Ferland | Stars: Kevin Bacon, Brad Renfro, Maximilian Schell, Calista Flockhart

Votes: 2,427 | Gross: $0.25M

7. American Hot Wax (1978)

PG | 91 min | Drama, History, Music

The story of Alan Freed, the pioneering disc jockey who was instrumental in introducing and popularizing rock 'n' roll in the 1950s.

Director: Floyd Mutrux | Stars: Tim McIntire, Fran Drescher, Jay Leno, Laraine Newman

Votes: 1,358

8. Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)

Approved | 95 min | Comedy, Musical, Romance

Romantic antics abound among the guests at a luxury hotel, including a stage director, an eccentric millionaire, and the daughter of a financial backer.

Director: Busby Berkeley | Stars: Dick Powell, Adolphe Menjou, Gloria Stuart, Alice Brady

Votes: 2,968

9. Edge of the City (1957)

Approved | 85 min | Drama

The growing friendship of two NYC longshoremen is threatened by a notably repellent punk.

Director: Martin Ritt | Stars: John Cassavetes, Sidney Poitier, Jack Warden, Kathleen Maguire

Votes: 3,589

10. The Great Man (1956)

Approved | 92 min | Drama

Joe Harris, preparing a eulogy for popular radio commentator Herb Fuller, finds that nobody has a good word to say about him.

Director: José Ferrer | Stars: José Ferrer, Dean Jagger, Keenan Wynn, Julie London

Votes: 475

11. Far Out!

Comedy | Announced

Slip down the rabbit hole of 1980 with smart, sexy, young singer, Carey Nation as she goes from the reception desk at a Sunset Plaza talent agency to the underbelly of L.A. Rock-N-Roll. Her... See full summary »

12. The Owners

Documentary, Music | Announced

The Owners - The Rise and Fall of the Music Industry. Circa 1996, a booming American economy operating during a surplus budget led by President Bill Clinton was in the middle of an ... See full summary »

Director: Ruben Rodas

13. Wages of Spin II Bring Down That Wall (2014)

90 min | Documentary, Crime

The 'Wages of Spin II' continues to weave the narrative thread established with the acclaimed (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, over 1000 PBS affiliate airings-featured on Entertainment Tonight)... See full summary »

Director: Shawn Swords | Stars: Gene Arnold, Dick Asher, John Byrne, John Fagot

14. Miami Vice (1984–1989)
Episode: Like a Hurricane (1987)

TV-14 | 47 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Crockett is assigned to bodyguard fading singing sensation and makes his displeasure known -- until he gets to know her a bit better.

Director: Colin Bucksey | Stars: Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago, Michael Talbott

Votes: 337

15. WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982)
Episode: Johnny Comes Back (1979)

TV-PG | 25 min | Comedy

Johnny returns to WKRP only to discover he has already been replaced by a DJ who is secretly taking payola in the form of cocaine.

Director: Asaad Kelada | Stars: Gary Sandy, Gordon Jump, Loni Anderson, Richard Sanders

Votes: 210

16. Mike Hammer (1958–1959)
Episode: Music to Die By (1958)

26 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Mike is asked to help a popular disk jockey who's been threatened by a powerful music producer to play her performers' songs or else. While Mike is trying to persuade the producer to back ... See full summary »

Director: Boris Sagal | Stars: Darren McGavin, Joan Banks, Wally Vernon, Robert Nichols

Votes: 34

17. Svengoolie (1995– )
Episode: Cult of the Cobra (1997)

TV-PG | 120 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy

Add a Plot

Director: Christopher M. Faulkner | Stars: Rich Koz, Doug Scharf, Jim Barton, Faith Domergue

Votes: 11

18. Cold Case (2003–2010)
Episode: Static (2006)

TV-14 | 44 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

The 1958 death of an influential and popular disc jockey is reopened when it becomes clear it was not a suicide as originally believed.

Director: Kevin Bray | Stars: Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, John Finn, Jeremy Ratchford

Votes: 380

19. Numb3rs (2005–2010)
Episode: Pay to Play (2008)

TV-14 | 60 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

The murder of a rapper puts Charlie to work analyzing the mathematics of the music business in the same week that Amita's parents come to town, and Megan has asked for a week off without discussing it with Don.

Director: Alex Zakrzewski | Stars: Rob Morrow, David Krumholtz, Judd Hirsch, Alimi Ballard

Votes: 233

20. Toon in with Me (2021– )
Episode: Simon Shock's Screaming Horror Theater (2022)

TV-PG | Animation, Comedy

Shock jock Simon Shock uses the show to audition as Svengoolie's backup.

Director: Mike Schmiedeler | Stars: Bill Leff, Kevin Fleming, Leila Gorstein, Rich Koz

Votes: 7

21. The Bullwinkle Show (1959–1963)
Episode: Painting Theft: Parts 5-6 (1962)

TV-G | 23 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

Rocky and Bullwinkle "Painting Theft" Part 5 of 6, Fractured Fairy Tales "The Flying Carpet", Peabody's Improbable History "The First Bullfight", Rocky and Bullwinkle "Painting Theft" Part 6 of 6.

Directors: Gerard Baldwin, Pete Burness, Sal Faillace, William T. Hurtz, Lew Keller, Ted Parmelee, George Singer | Stars: June Foray, Paul Frees, Edward Everett Horton, Hans Conried

Votes: 29

22. The Bullwinkle Show (1959–1963)
Episode: Lazy Jay Ranch: Parts 11-12 (1961)

TV-G | 22 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

Rocky and Bullwinkle "Lazy Jay Ranch" Part 11, Fractured Fairy Tales "The Magic Chicken", Peabody's Improbable History "Leif Ericsson", Rocky and Bullwinkle "Lazy Jay Ranch" Part 12.

Directors: Gerard Baldwin, Pete Burness, Sal Faillace, William T. Hurtz, Lew Keller, Ted Parmelee, George Singer | Stars: June Foray, Paul Frees, Edward Everett Horton, Hans Conried

Votes: 20

23. The Bullwinkle Show (1959–1963)
Episode: Pottsylvania Creeper: Parts 5-6 (1962)

TV-G | Animation, Action, Adventure

Rocky and Bullwinkle "Pottsylvania Creeper" Part 5 of 6, Aesop and Son "Son of the Masked Clock", Peabody's Improbable History "Mata Hari", Rocky and Bullwinkle "Pottsylvania Creeper" Part 6 of 6.

Directors: Gerard Baldwin, Pete Burness, Sal Faillace, William T. Hurtz, Lew Keller, Ted Parmelee, George Singer | Stars: June Foray, Paul Frees, Edward Everett Horton, Hans Conried

Votes: 19

24. The Box (1974–1977)
Episode: Episode #1.82 (1974)

30 min | Comedy, Drama

Phillip forces his attentions on Kay. Vicki sniffs out Gary's payola deal.

Director: Graeme Arthur | Stars: Barrie Barkla, Briony Behets, Fred Betts, Graeme Blundell