Hi Ron.

I think earnings from Radio play is a bit of a red herring.
I don't know about the set up over in the States, but, here in the UK, there are very few programmes. Mike Harding (1 hour per week), Andy Kershaw (1 and a half hours per week), and Late Junction (3/4 hours a week, but only occasional folk is featured).
Thats national BBC Radio, Local radio has some valiant attempts to fight a rearguard action against the much cheaper phone in style of programmes. And long may that continue. (Some of them are available on the "Listen Again" facility on the Beebs website).

Most working artists over here, in my experience, buy a stock of CDs from whatever company they recorded with, and are then free to sell them at gigs, thus supplementing the sometimes meagre fees they get for performing.

In fact there is a loose arrangement between several artists, here in the UK, whereby thay swap CDs, and open up a sort of mini-shop at gigs, selling several different artists.

So, for instance. I'm doing a gig, box of records on the door, and I can say, if you like me, you might like these other artists too. check 'em out!!

This is fine for performing artists.
But, what about incapacitated ones (and the dead)?

It all comes down then to who owns the publishing rights.
Obviously, the artist concerned cannot perform, and sell CDs, so, if they don't own the publishing rights (Yes, Yes...they should have known better, but who did when they were 20)

If your equivalent of Beethovens 5th is recorded by Bob Dylan or Paul Simon (Why did those two names pop into my head??) then you get diddly squat.

So, the publishing rights are the real issue. Broadcast PRS rights are nice, but if you can't perform.........

Hope that makes sense Ron. Would love to discuss this further over a beer one day. You sound like an all right guy.

And I meant the Kind Regards bit!!!

Ralphie

PS. This is probably why the Pat Cooksey "Sick Note" saga has gone suspiciously quiet. There is a lot of money involved in that one. Good luck Pat, if you read this!!