Do bands get paid every time their song is played on the radio?

Yes, bands and songwriters generally receive payment every time their music is played on the radio. When a radio station broadcasts a song, it must pay royalties to the copyright holders of that song. This payment is divided between the songwriter(s) and the artist(s) who recorded the song. In the United States, royalty payments for radio play are collected by performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. These organizations distribute the royalties to their members based on the amount of airplay each song receives. In most cases, radio stations pay these royalties based on a number of factors, including the popularity of the song, the amount of time it is played, and the size of the market in which the radio station is located.