tony sayer wrote:

Indeed Radio airplay was, and AFAIK still is, of great importance to
expose and advertise new music or artists etc to the public. Why they
seem hell bent of stopping it seems all arse about face;!...


But they *aren't* hell bent on stopping it!

It remains *completely free* for personal use, paid for by the TV
licence fee (on BBC Radio) and advertising (on commercial radio).