Payola - Anything for a Hit | 6

American Scandal

Wondery

True Crime, Exhibit C, Society & Culture, History, Documentary, History Daily, American History Tellers, Lindsay Graham

4.6 • 18.7K Ratings

🗓️ 28 May 2019

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Records stuffed with cash. Cassette cases full of cocaine. The details revealed at record promoter Joe Isgro's payola trial shock the public. And the trial's outcome is an even bigger surprise.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American Scandal add-free on Amazon Music, download the app today.
0:19.0	On October 28, 1988, Roulette Records owner Morris Levy sits next to his lawyer in a Camden, New Jersey courtroom.
0:27.0	The 61-year-old music mogul is dressed conservatively in a dark suit and crisp white shirt with gold cufflinks.
0:33.0	He wants to make a good impression. It's his last chance before a judge passes sentence on him for extortion and racketeering.
0:40.0	Levy seen his share of courtrooms over the years. He's been investigated by the FBI, the IRS, the New York Attorney General, and even Congress.
0:48.0	They've all scoured his business records and personal finances looking for any evidence of his long rumored criminal activities, especially his ties to the mafia.
0:57.0	But nothing's ever stuck until now.
1:02.0	The court clerk announces the United States District Court of the State of New Jersey is now back in session and introduces the man entering in black robes as the
1:11.0	Arnold Judge Stanley S. Broadman.
1:14.0	You may be seated.
1:16.0	Levy listens as his lawyer delivers a final statement on his behalf.
1:19.0	Morris Levy has given money to all kinds of people. He buys wheelchairs for paralyzed children. He donates millions to charities.
1:27.0	He's been a major force in American music by virtue of his honesty and his integrity. Mr. Levy is a good decent human being.
1:36.0	His lawyer sits and the judge directs his gaze at Levy.
1:39.0	Mr. Levy, do you wish to say anything?
1:42.0	Levy rises from his chair. He's still a big man, well over 200 pounds, and getting up takes a minute. A thousand thoughts are racing through his mind, but he can only manage to put one of them into words.
1:54.0	Your honor.
1:55.0	I'm innocent. That's all I can say. I believe I am innocent.
2:02.0	Levy slumps heavily back into his seat, and the prosecutor rises to make his final remarks.
2:07.0	Your honor, you have heard the defense attempt to characterize this as a normal business transaction. What he was anything but normal.
2:14.0	The defendants conspired over a year against John Lamont, threatening him with physical harm.
2:20.0	John Lamont, of all people, how is it possible that he could be the agent of Levy's undoing?
	...

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