Eli5: How do record labels/artist know when a radio station plays their music to calculate much do they get paid

Question

Eli5: How do record labels/artist know when a radio station plays their music to calculate much do they get paid

In: 37

Answer 1

There are also rigs that scan 40-50 channels at a time (radio, TV, cable, etc). It can then compare the commercials played with the commercials billed. This is the sort thing that really just requires a large closet, power and Internet and I know some people who would rent these out and you get a small amount per month to have it double check on what the stations say and what they do.