[TomGuy]

They do pay royalties for the songs they play.

There was a time (may still happen) when musicians would actually go from one smalltown radio station to the next and literally beg them to play the artist's recording on-air.

==

I do recall several years ago some of the record companies trying to get retro-royalties from internet radio stations. Many of those internet radio stations just relocated their IPs to foreign countries.

[a fool in paradise]

There was a time (may still happen) when musicians would actually go from one smalltown radio station to the next and literally beg them to play the artist's recording on-air.

Joe Strummer is seen doing this in a documentary about him (possibly in NYC) trying to promote his career after the Clash had folded. He couldn't get on the radio, even if he offered to drop by on air.