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Those are the questions a number of North American radio programmers have been asking themselves in light of the new R. Kelly single, Ignition.
The embattled performer has been charged with several counts of having sex with a minor, which he allegedly also videotaped.
Calgary's two urban radio stations are choosing to ignore the controversy, and have added the song to their respective playlists.
"At this point it's innocent until proven guilty," says KISS 96.9's program director Steve Kennedy, noting that because of R. Kelly's work as a songwriter and producer, dozens of popular songs would be affected.
Plus, Kennedy notes, if legal troubles and criminal records were a justification for pulling songs, "half of radio station's playlists would be in danger."
VIBE 98-5's operations manager Stewart Meyers agrees. "Is CJAY (92) not going to play The Who?" he asks, referring to the recent child porn scandal surrounding the rock band's guitarist Pete Townshend.
Meyers says playing the R. Kelly cut was never an issue for the station and notes a lack of negative feedback from listeners indicates it's not with music fans either.
MuchMusic's senior music programmer Craig Halket said the station's review committee discussed the Kelly controversy before the Ignition video was added last week.
"We're judging the music purely on the quality of the music and the video," says Halket. "And I think it's a great song. We'll revisit it if he's convicted."
Publicly, Chicago-based R.(Robert) Kelly was noted for delivering suggestive R&B and selling more than 20 million records. But industry insiders whispered about his brief marriage to his then 15-year-old protege Aaliyah and a predilection for young girls.
Chocolate City, Kelly's new album, has been called by some critics "brilliant" and "his best work yet."
But you won't hear that from Chicago Sun-Times critic Jim DeRogatis, who isn't planning to review the record. He's the reporter who anonymously sent the graphic videotape purportedly showing Kelly having sex with a minor. The paper gave the tape to police and Kelly was charged.
"To me, at this point, it seems as if the music is pretty much irrelevant, especially in light of the character of the music," says DeRogatis. "Here is this freakish guy who is accused of a horrible crime and we're getting off on listening to him sing 'Stick your key in my ignition, baby' ...
"You have to wonder above and beyond the industry continuing to push this guy, just how much are listeners thinking about what really went on here? Of course they haven't seen the videotape ...
"(The girl) has the disembodied look of a rape victim ... It's a really sad and disturbing piece of film."
If convicted on all counts, Kelly could face a maximum 60 years in prison.
-- with files from CP