Do artists get money everytime a radio station plays their songs?

I have an on-going argument with people on this one. I think NO. Anyone know for sure?

No, they do not. An artist is only paid for the royalties of a song when it bought, not played. Any song may be played on the radio, free of charge to the radio station. The only way a radio station could legally be charged money to play a song is if the radio station itself was charging its listeners, because it would be copyright violation.

Music is played on the radio as a means of free promotion to the artist. People buy music because it is heard on the radio. No radio station would be able to exist if they paid the royalties on the songs they played. Its no different then if you buy an album and play it for your friends. You own the copyright priviledges to that album, but you are not responsible for other people listening to the music. If you (or the station) were to give away, or charge for the music on cd, or some other type of media, then it would be copyright violation.

A radio station is basically that 'friend' that plays the album for you to encourage you to buy it.

yea because the radio station doesn't own those songs to call their own, so the artist could sue the radio station, i think. :) hope this helps.

Yes they do. Thats why they ask people to request their song on the raido.

no i don't think so

No!!! actually the artist/label pays the radio station to play there songs at times....the radio is there for promotional reasons for the artist....the artist get paid for album sells, shows, and endorsments!!!!

the artist was paid immediately by the station after the launching of their songs or album as permission to play their songs on that particular station anytime they want, some are for unlimited times... so, the station are not paying the artists everytime they play their songs... bec,if it's so, we'll just hear popular songs from them, not those oldy and funky songs... and infact artists are also using those radio station to advertise their album.