Performers to be paid on time? (4)
I believe the answer is:
duet
'performers' is the definition.
(a pair of performers)
'to be paid on time?' is the wordplay.
'to be paid' becomes 'due'.
'on' says to put letters next to each other.
'time?' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'due'+'t'='DUET'
(Other definitions for duet that I've seen before include "Musical piece for two performers" , "Performance by company, perhaps" , "Work for two players" , "A song sung by two" , "Paired performance" .)