Overview
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into five major music services over alleged undisclosed paid promotion.
- His office issued civil investigative demands to the platforms seeking records on how songs are pushed to users.
- Investigators are looking for payments by labels, promoters, or other third parties in exchange for playlist placement or boosted recommendations without clear disclosure.
- The inquiry draws on past payola rules that banned hidden paid radio play as streaming playlists and algorithms now shape what listeners discover.
- No findings or penalties have been announced, and the companies named have not issued full responses.