How much does bbc radio 1 pay an artist when they play a track how pounds song amount to per play?

BBC Radio 1 does not pay artists directly when their music is played on the radio. Instead, the BBC pays an annual license fee to the music industry, which is then distributed to artists and songwriters through various organizations such as the UK's Performing Right Society (PRS) and Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society (MCPS).

Artists and songwriters receive royalties from the BBC based on several factors, including the number of times their music is played on the radio, the length of the song, and the station's audience size. The exact amount that an artist earns for a single play on BBC Radio 1 can vary widely, but it is typically a very small amount.

In 2021, the BBC reported that it paid £236.5 million in music royalties to the UK music industry, with BBC Radio 1 accounting for a significant portion of that amount. The BBC's annual license fee for UK music currently stands at £536 million.