In the past six months, KEXP DJ John Richards ("John in the Morning") has given a coveted amount of attention on his popular weekday radio show to local '60s-Brit-Invasion revival band the Blakes. This summer, for example, in the week leading up to KEXP's Annual Summer BBQ (featuring the Cave Singers, Blue Scholars, and the Blakes), Richards played the Blakes twice as many times as the Cave Singers or Blue Scholars. Also in the past year, the Blakes got more spins than popular local acts like Death Cab for Cutie, the Decemberists, and Minus the Bear on his show.

That's not surprising. The Blakes are a favorite of both KEXP DJs and listeners. But Richards also comanages the Blakes with business partner Lars Sorensen (though nothing has been signed).

Several people in the scene, from bookers to musicians, grouse off the record about the apparent conflict but won't go public because, they say, they don't want to jeopardize their relationship with the important DJ.

As the associate program director at KEXP, Richards' ability to play bands he's directly involved with may seem to resemble payola. But what Richards is doing isn't payola. It isn't illegal—he's not accepting bribes. He's doing his job as a DJ—focusing on the bands that station management puts in rotation, the pool of bands DJs choose from to make their playlists.

"As long as I don't abuse airplay, then I'm not doing anything wrong," Richards says. "I don't choose what goes into rotation."

Don Yates, KEXP's station manager, is in charge of rotation. He bases his rotation decisions on listener feedback, local charts and sales, and his own enthusiasm for bands.

But as a defense of Richards, that's a bit of a catch-22. Richards is a tastemaker in Seattle's music scene, and one of KEXP's most influential DJs. While Yates might choose what goes into rotation, it's hard to believe Richards's discoveries don't migrate up onto the rotation lists.

For example, Richards was the first KEXP DJ to play Wild Sweet Orange, a Bright Eyes–wannabe outfit, in February. The band was played on Richards's show intermittently through spring and eventually also ended up on fellow KEXP DJ Cheryl Waters's playlist. Presumably in rotation now after Richards first gave them a little play, they've received nearly 150 plays since, according to KEXP's searchable playlist at www.cheeseandbeer.com/radio. (KEXP would not share its rotation lists with us for this story.)

According to the same website, the Blakes have received 39 plays on Richards's show in the last year. Sub Pop's highest-selling artist ever, the Shins, have been played 44 times on his show. Two local bands who are more on par with the Blakes, the Cave Singers and the Valley, have received 19 and 20 respectively.

At 107.7 The End, part-time DJ Chris Travis also works with local bands via his record label, Burning Building. Travis has signed a conflict-of-interest agreement with the station. They have the right to fire him if he abuses his power. At KEXP, Richards' playlists are also monitored, but he hasn't signed a conflict-of-interest agreement.

But while Richards's commitment to the Blakes may raise red flags, the explanation for the conflict of interest is actually part of an equation that makes indie stations like KEXP vibrant. Richards is a music enthusiast, and so it's inevitable—and perhaps even a good thing—that he'd wind up working with a local band.

The Stranger has conflicts of interest too. Music writer Eric Grandy DJs around town as DJ Fucking in the Streets and sometimes those shows get previewed in the music section of the paper. We're not shy about covering Dan Savage's TV appearances, David Schmader's Showgirls performance pieces, or Charles Mudede's movies. Employing editors and writers who are involved in the communities they cover is part of what makes our newspaper relevant. Personally, I've cohosted The End's Young and the Restless show over the years (though I have never been paid for it).

"As a general rule, KEXP policies do not prohibit staff from outside interests and projects," says Yates. "Our staff is deeply involved in the music scene, and KEXP and our listeners both benefit from those connections. The solution is disclosure."

"John has mentioned he manages the Blakes a number of times over the past few months," he continues. "He's doing exactly what he should be doing."

Richards admits he could make money off of the Blakes.

"One day, if the band were successful, sure, there'd be a percentage," he says.

"If I had a direct profit from the playing of bands, I would stop playing them at the very least and stop doing the label or management company. I'd have no trouble walking away from those things if the listeners wanted me to."