The Hitmen: The Shocking True Story of a Family of Killers for Hire

Product Information

Payola, in which cash (and drugs and women) payments were made to DJs and program directors, had been around for decades, but many had assumed that the big Federal crackdown in the early 1960s had killed it. As author Mark Shaw reveals in this highly original and informative book, the ‘upper world’ sails perilously close to the underworld.

This is a fantastic book if you really want to know the history of the senior executive machinations at CBS Records during the 70's and 80's or about the Network of indie promoters who controlled radio play during the same time.

Actually, you'll be disappointed if you're expecting anything more than passing mention of actual musicians; here, they're little more than names on Billboard charts, or clients of superstar lawyers. How was Sony (Japan) or Polygram (Germany) supposed to know what American young people wanted to listen to? Brouwer once again succeeds in combining a sports themed book with an action packed dangerous situation requiring the high school-aged characters to make ethical and moral decisions. Unsavory revealing of strongarm bullies controlling what got played on the radio (not inc college radio) through bribery paid to " promotion" men which explains why the same ten songs got played til they sounded like nauseating shit for a decade or two and thousands of great songs , which couldve been hits ,did not. The Hitmen draws on exclusive access to wire taps, case files and interviews with sources close to the gang who have never spoken before.

Meet the Wilsons - the deadliest family in crime Brothers Eric, Keith and John Wilson, their cousin Alan, and nephew Luke shared a trade - assassination. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Mark Shaw is director of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime and senior visiting fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science’s International Drug Policy Project. The Hitmen: the Shocking True Story of a Family of Killers for Hire is top of the Irish non-fiction charts. Despite being published 20 years ago, this paperback edition of Dannen’s explosive music industry exposé is an enthralling read.

Since 1994, South Africa has witnessed some spectacular underworld killings associated with various industries and sectors. But in 2017, Alan and Luke were both jailed over a ­Kinahan plot to murder Hutch figure Gary Hanley. Too in depth for me; this focuses on record executives over the past decades and there was just too many names and characters that I didn't really care about. Anyone with more than a passing interest in the inner workings of the [music] industry will be enthralled by the juicy tales [Dannen] has to tell. Written by an investigative journalist, this book looks at professional killers, the people who hire them, and those who die at their hands.