Payola, the act of paying disc jockeys for airplay, has been a controversial issue in the Jamaican entertainment industry for a long time now. In 2012 the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) persuaded the government to make payola a criminal offence, however the act still persists.

TEENage hit the streets to hear your views on the issue of payola. Should it be seen as an unfair and illegal act or is it just business?

Well we are in an era where everyone is trying to make some extra cash. If a disk jockey can make some extra money by going that route, why not. It’s just business.

Chavon Panton

It’s just not right! One you should be able to get a chance to get your stuff heard fairly. It isn’t fair that a person might have a really good song and it won’t get played because they don’t have the money to push it.

Krysta-Leigh Thames

It is corruption and is to be scorned as corruption within parliament. The music should be played based on merit; that is, quality and demand from the people. It stifles true talent from exploding on the scene and making their mark.

Jabari Monroe

Well, it’s unfair because not all artistes are given the opportunity for airplay so it may seem bias. With payola there’s hardly any chance the guy who’s just starting out in the music business because the more popular and better off artistes keep paying for their songs to be played.

Tishana Williams

Payola should not be considered as an illegal or unfair act. It simply speaks to the morals and values of those who accept money for their personal gains. As far as I see it’s just ‘Sticks in trade and matches box in business.’

Kamala Edwards

It should be seen as unfair and illegal because people will listen to the popular artistes no matter what they put out seeing that they’re the ones with the capital to pay for play. This kind of system will stifle new artistes and kill talented artistes, who could be potential table toppers.

Mikhail Palmer