Questions around fairness in the music broadcasting space have surfaced following remarks made by Gugu Khathi, the wife of award winning musician DJ Tira, during a public celebration in KwaZulu Natal. Her comments have drawn attention to long standing concerns about how songs are selected for airplay, particularly for emerging artists.
Khathi made the remarks shortly after DJ Tira was celebrated for winning Song of the Year on Durban based radio station Gagasi FM. The event took place at Platinum Lounge in Umhlanga on Friday and was attended by industry figures and supporters of the artist. While the occasion was meant to honor musical success, it also became a platform for broader industry reflections. Speaking during the celebration, Khathi praised Gagasi FM for what she described as transparent and fair support for artists. She contrasted this with practices she alleged were taking place at some Johannesburg based radio stations. According to her claims, certain stations demand payments of R50 000 in exchange for playlisting songs, a practice she said places unfair pressure on upcoming musicians.
Her comments have since sparked discussion within music circles, as pay for play allegations have long been whispered about but rarely addressed publicly. Khathi emphasized the financial strain such demands place on new artists who are still trying to establish themselves in a competitive industry.
DJ Tira later took the stage and focused his remarks on appreciation rather than controversy. He thanked Gagasi FM for its listener driven voting system, noting that the process allowed fair participation by limiting votes to one per cellphone number. He also reflected on the station support during his early career days with Durban Finest and the opportunity to host a show titled G Session. He further spoke about the resilience of KwaZulu Natal artists and their commitment to maintaining their musical identity despite changing trends in the industry.