The point here isn't how is the signal transmitted. Yes digital does use a signal that can be observed in the analog domain. The real question is where is the information. With what we call an analog signal the information is in the amplitude of the input signal. With digital the information is in the CHANGES in voltage over time, Not in the voltage itself. For each clock cycle you look at the input voltage to see if it is in the high or low state. Lets say the low state is defined as 0 to .5 volts and high is defined as 4 to 5 volts. the transition to high from low occurs at 3.5 volt and the transition from high to low occurs at 1.5 volts. You could have a half volt of noise on the line and it would not effect the information in the signal. The transition from high to low and low to high would still be read the same. In short the information would be unchanged. Try that with an analog signal and most of the information is lost.

Alright you scofflaw Pirate you, Yeah, they're coming for you but, you don't seem to know who "they" are. They folk that you need to be in fear of are the gang of three, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC. These guys are almost as blood thirsty as the RIAA but, there is a slightly highly chance of the monies collected getting to the song writer. At least they have the good sense not to go after the listener. Instead they try to shake down any business that has the nerve to play music. It doesn't matter if the music is live or just the radio, they want their cut. On a serious note: there are three degrees of ownership for any recording. A. The performance, This is owned by the performers unless they sell the rights for the performance to someone or something else, such as the record labels. Radio stations do not pay royalties for this right. The agreement is that the promotional value is greater than the value of the royalty. B. The publishing right. This is held by the songwriter/composer unless sold, etc. The royalty for this right would be administered by either ASCAP, BMI or SESAC. Radio stations pay a flat rate royalty for this based on the number of listeners. The different organizations sample whats being played by the station and divide the royalty up amongst its members based on how much they are played. C. The media itself. Believe it or not, it is possible to own the media without owning the other 2 rights. Good reel to reel tape has never been cheap. When tape was all that was available, It was common practice for studios to "rent" the use of multi-tape to bands on a budget. If a song sounded especially good the studio would hang on to the multi-track tape and not reuse it. If the song started to take off, the record company would approach the studio to buy the multi-track tape from them. It was common to remix the song for national distribution. The studio didn't own the song or the performance, so they couldn't sell the tape on the open market, they did own the tape itself. They would often sell the tape for several thousand dollars to the record label. not a bad return.

To paraphrase the movie Braveheart, The trouble with law, is that its practiced by lawyers.

Go Wings Eh!