Hott 107.5 FM disc jockeys Earlwin (Bootsie) Wolffe and Lynwood (Brother Ritchie) Richardson are no longer on the air.

The radio station said the pair had left as part of a restructuring of the year-old radio station, which claims to be the most popular on the Island. Chief executive officer Elroy Smith yesterday denied the restructuring was due to a lack of advertising. Instead, he said it was part of the ?growing pains? of a new company.

?On behalf of myself Glenn Blakeney (president and managing director) and Scott Pearman (chief operating officer) I wish to publicly express my gratitude for their contribution,? Mr. Smith said. But he did not know what Mr. Wolffe and Mr. Richardson would do for a job now they had been let go.

?If a competitor wants to hire them, that?s up to them,? he said.

?Naturally, this is an evolving and brand new business,? Mr. Smith added. ?We looked at every player in the team as we begin to grow to see what can help us.?

Mr. Smith said 90 percent of the commercials it put on the air were pre-produced, hence the termination of production director Steve Easton on October 31.

Asked whether the lack of a team of local news reporters detracted from the station?s attractiveness to advertisers, Mr. Smith said Hott 107.5 was not going in a news direction and its listeners were given an appetiser of local and global current events instead.

?This station is built and based on music,? he said. ?We are very concerned with what goes on in the community and has always had a morning talking point where listeners can call in.?

The release also said Thaao Dill had been promoted to programme director and would host the morning show with Nefertari Swainson from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Mr. Smith said said a research study said Mr. Dill was the most popular personality on the air.

?There will be a balance of male and female,? he said. ?It will not be just an all-male domain anymore.?

The morning show will also feature an American comedian, a segment for high school students, trivia, a celebrity report and relationship hour.