Final answer:
Payola is the practice of bribing someone to play a particular song or artist on the radio. It was prevalent in the music industry in the 1950s and '60s and was seen as a form of corruption.
Step-by-step explanation:
Payola refers to the practice of bribing someone, typically a disc jockey or radio station, to play a particular song or artist on the radio. It involves offering money, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for airtime. This practice became prevalent in the music industry in the 1950s and '60s, and was seen as a form of corruption that undermined the integrity of radio programming.