New York attorney general Eliot Spitzer has significantly stepped up his attack on members of the Big Four record Organized Music cartel over air time bribes.

Warner Music Group recently agreed to pay $5 million to nonprofit music organizations plus $50,000 to cover the costs of Spitzer's inquiry into payola charges, echoing an earlier deal he'd reached with Sony BMG, which agreed to pay $10 million on the same charge. Sony executives were said to have known what was going on.

He's also investigating Sony in the recent First4Internet rootkit DRM spyware debacle.

Now Spitzer has subpoenaed Clear Channel Communications, Infinity (CBS Radio), Citadel Broadcasting Corp, Cox Radio, Cumulus Broadcasting, Pamal Broadcasting, Entercom Communications Corp, Emmis Communications Corp and ABC, "in his investigation of claims that some major recording artists got air time because of payoffs by their labels," says the Los Angeles Times.

The investigation takes in Jennifer Lopez's 'I'm Real' and John Mayer's 'Daughters'.

"Songs by other artists also are being examined, including ones by Jessica Simpson, Celine Dion, Maroon 5, Good Charlotte, Franz Ferdinand, Switchfoot, Michelle Branch and R.E.M," says the LA Times.

"A lot of the major songs have been implicated in this, and it showed how pervasive the payola infrastructure had become," Spitzer is quoted as saying.

"Major artists, major songs were sent up the charts through improper payments to buy spins on the air that translated into sales. Artists and writers are not targets, Spitzer's office said.

" In fact, some have supported the probe and provided complaints that assisted investigators.

"Station owner representatives who were reached for comment denied that payola had taken place at their companies."

Definitely stay tuned.

Also See:
$5 million - Spitzer nails Warner Music, November 23, 2005
$10 million - Spitzer goes after Sony BMG, November 29, 2005
spyware debacle - Spitzer goes after Sony BMG, November 29, 2005
going on - Sony BMG execs knew of payoffs, December 7, 2005
Los Angeles Times - Spitzer Names 9 Radio Firms, February 9, 2006