Payola$

Formed in Vancouver in 1978 by vocalist Paul Hyde and guitarist Bob Rock, Payola$ was a Canadian new wave and pop-rock band. The group achieved major commercial success in Canada during the 1980s, earning multiple Juno Awards and platinum certifications for albums like No Stranger to Danger (1982) and Hammer on a Drum (1983). Their best-known hit, "Eyes of a Stranger," became a staple of 1980s Canadian radio and was featured on the soundtrack for the film Valley Girl. Facing friction from U.S. record executives over their controversial name—a reference to the radio pay-for-play scandals—the band temporarily rebranded as Paul Hyde and the Payolas before eventually disbanding in 1988, after which Bob Rock transitioned into a career as a high-profile music producer.