If they don't give the rights to the RIAA cartel, they can't get on the radio, which is in bed with the record companies in a payola scam. And if they can't get on the radio, they can't have a career. Both the stations and the RIAA know that. So they loan the artists tons of money to record, front a small amount of payola to get them airplay, and drop them like a bad habit if they don't instantly hit. Then they're in debt to the record cartel for more than they can ever pay back, and more often than not, the cartel controls the songs. And they say WE'RE stealing? I think not.
Nobody needs to "get on the radio" these days. NOT with the internet. My kids don't listen to radio any more. Seriously. It is truly becoming a free market IF you (a music/songwriter/performer) want to do it.
You have some choices here. DON'T listen to the radio. (Quite frankly, I don't at all these days. Most music there is C.r.a.p. in my book.) Don't listen to "cartel" music.