Keep in mind that the RIAA does not represent any artists at all. It merely represents the recording companies which sign the artists. The RIAA is under no obligation to give any of its collected money to the artists signed by the companies.
True, but if they're going to do that, they lose the right to wrap themselves in the welfare of the artists like they do. There's nothing immoral about defending the interests of a legal business, even a perhaps justifiably unpopular one, but there is something immoral about being dishonest.
You can go to Amazon right now and buy the complete recordings of Robert Johnson (41 tracks cut for the Vocalion label in the mid thirties) for $22.99. I would sure like to know how much money the Johnson heirs get from each sale.