They used to make their money off of record sales that were generated by radio play, didn’t they? Isn’t that where “pay for play” came from?
You make your money now from getting on movie and TV soundtracks.
The recording studios used to pay top DJs under the table, to play songs they wanted to promote. That practice — payola — is where ‘pay-for-play’ originated, and it is now illegal.
Record companies allowed free-play of their music, in return for the publicity. That’s why DJ’s (I was one, in a small market, for a few years.) were required to either intro, or extro, every tune they played — so that people could rush out and buy the record. As others have noted, that system doesn’t work well any more.
Over 82% of the money from music today comes from streaming, not sales.
Radio airplay won’t pay the bills and neither will and physical or digital sales.
Streaming has replaced product sales and only the 1% see the money.
YEP...PAYOLA