How Much Is Fair?: Conversations On Radio Industry Rates and Pay Sparked On the Socials
With Penny Ntuli’s controversial exit from Gagasi FM due to unfair payment and unsuccessful salary negotiations, conversations on down-low exploitation within the radio industry has reared its head. With Penny’s saga setting off a chain reaction that has people arguing on whether or not everything is related, more radio personalities and DJs have come out to air their own thoughts on the matter of pay in exchange for services.
Radio producer Simmi, formerly of the radio station 947, shared how he made R9000 a month during the two years he produced breakfast content for the station. He also lamented how radio salaries were “pitiful”. Former Gagasi FM DJ Fabulous also shared how he was paid R2500 a month during his tenure with the station back in 2009.
Penny Lebyane also came out with her woes, and went as far as sharing a 2011 interview she did with Sowetan, in which she detailed the horrors of working under unfavourable conditions, leading to a mental breakdown.
Others, like DJ Warras, didn’t have to go through the ringer, with him answering on X that he actually earned what Penny was supposed to make a month in an hour instead. There’s also been conversation of SPHEctacula and DJ Naves, aka Kings of the Weekend, earning 100K each for their time.
With the minimum wage discourses set ablaze on the net (of which is R3500 in South Africa), it’s important to know that industries differ and so do rates. In addition, the size of the radio station also should be taken into account when it comes to factoring the proceedings of paying employees.
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a radio presenter stands at around 11K a month (but this estimate doesn’t say whether it’s for entry level or experienced presenters), while financial literacy website Arcadia Finance set the bar between R5000 and R15 000 per month for entry-level radio presenters, which is well above the figures that have been flying around on the socials. PayScale set the bar at around 4K a month for entry-level presenters in South Africa.
With so many differing takes, what is your take, and if you’ve worked in radio, how has your experience been?