( l - r ) Kurt Riley, ZJ Liquid. François St Juste, general manager for radio at the RJR Communications Group. - File

Quite often, radio disc jockeys also don the producer cap. However, questions are sometimes raised whether there is a conflict of interest when they do both.

Ilabash is one producer who believes there is a possible problem when they do both.

"The ethics come in when he's a producer and disc jockey, especially if his production is being played more over another person who is not a disc jock," Ilabash told THE STAR.

He said the programme director should be the one who determines what is played. And, he said, the disc jockeys should select material for their show from the station library, where there is more control, and not from their own collections.

"Mi don't want mek it seem like mi a fight against disc jockeys. If that's the rule of the station, I have no qualms. It just means that I am not aware," Ilabash said, while noting that he has produced artistes like Yellow Man, Sizzla, Teflon, Fyakin and his artiste Difenetah.

François St Juste, general manager for radio at the RJR Communications Group (comprising FAME FM, Hitz 92 FM and RJR), said issues can arise but there is no problem with DJs being producers in the group.

a conflict of interest

"It could lead to a conflict of interest if people are not responsible in their operations and if people are not being supervised," he told THE STAR.

"We have a system where people have to declare what they are involved in and what they play."

He also noted that it would be unfair to restrict the DJs from being involved in another discipline if they are competent in it as well. So far, he said he has not received any complaints about DJs in the group playing their productions more than others.

"We just have to make sure they understand the rules of engagement," St Juste said.

FAME FM DJ Kurt Riley said he has not abused the system at his station and it is not something he would do.

"Mi caan do dat!," said the very outspoken Riley. "Yuh nah go hear a DJ a play fi dem thing hard. What we do for each other, we do for everybody else. If something sounds good, I'm going to play it. If it don't sound good and it play everyday, then you have grounds for complaints."

Riley has made rhythms like 'Ruler' (with his brother André Riley), 'Golden Gate' and 'European Swing'. Another Fame FM DJ, Arif Cooper, produced the hugely popular 'Guardian Angel' rhythm in 2007.

Sharing St Juste's sentiments, Riley said DJs, who are also talented producers, should not be prohibited from doing both. At FAME FM, he said he has to submit his list of productions, which are then screened by his superiors. If the quality is good enough, then they are approved.

In the same breath, he said many producers who complain about their productions not being played, sometimes submit poor quality work.

DJs should not be limited

"It is going to raise eyebrows 'cause producers ago seh fi dem ting nah get play. But all of dem don't sound good and some of dem don't want to spend time on their productions," Riley said, while noting that he will not subject his listeners to poorly-produced tracks.

ZIP FM's ZJ Liquid has many productions under his belt, hence, he believes DJs should not be limited if they have the talent.

"If you have that talent weh yuh waan produce you should have that right. Yuh just haffi use yuh conscience and know yuh caan play your rhythm all day everyday," Liquid told THE STAR.

"Yuh don't overdo it 'cause it's yours. Sometimes mi don't even play my rhythm; other DJs do it."

Generally, he said he does not tell everyone which rhythms he produces and they love them regardless. Liquid said he has done rhythms such as 'Crazy Hype', 'Slow Bounce', 'Hello Moto' and 'Twelve Gage' (with Stephen McGregor). The recent 'Maybac' rhythm is his first for this year. His last was 'Blue Tooth' last year.