Ep. 271: The Mafia in Rock n’ Roll

Today, it is a given that Rock ‘N Roll is still one of the most popular and lucrative music genres in the world, but this was not always the case.  In the 1950’s, it was an upstart musical movement that was nothing like the contemporary songs of the day.  It needed a push, and that push came from an unlikely source:  The Mafia.  The Mob realized the potential of this new music, and they made it their mission to make a monopoly out of it.  Jeffrey Sussman is back to tell us how The Mob made a star out of Rock ‘N Roll by using Jukeboxes, “into perpetuity” contracts, Payola, and a few old fashion beatdowns. Episodes We Mentioned Fascinating Nouns Ep. on Howard Hughes in Hollywood Jeffrey Sussman on Social Media Facebook Twitter Purchase “Backbeat Gangsters” Fascinating Nouns on Social Media Facebook Twitter YouTube