Alan Freed

In May 1960, Freed and others were indicted on charges of receiving payola. He pleaded not guilty to 26 counts of commercial bribery; the biggest - for $10,000 - from Roulette Records. In return, it was alleged that Freed played a chosen record eight or nine times in a night.

Morris Levy (notorious Roulette boss) claimed "unjust accusations" had been made and that DJs had signed affidavits acknowledging they had never received any "consideration" for playing Roulette platters. The scandal forced the increasingly alcoholic Freed off the air.