Your long explanation of the royalty process is jibberish. This is a VERY complicated subject, and what you have quoted is simply rationalization of the legality of a pay-for-pirated music site. For example, ever hear of "mechanical royalties"? You fail to mention these. FYI--this is how the performing artist gets paid. Yes, when Rod Stewart records album after album of "standards", he actually MAKES MONEY from the sales. Not just the composer/publisher. Likewise, he gets money from internet sales. You are generally correct, however, that he gets nothing for radio play royalties. Somehow, that was considered promotional for record sales--where he got something. Internet downloads are considered a form of mechanical recording sale. The rates of royalties are all over the place, and changing (in the artists favor generally) quickly. Saying there are no royalties as that article does is not true, however.