In 1941, “Chattanooga Choo-Choo” was the biggest hit in the land, thanks to — what else? — the radio. Radio’s popularity owes much to songs like this — and the songwriters and publishers who enabled us to hear them. Back then, the balance of power in the music industry was tilted towards the performing rights groups ASCAP and BMI, organizations that acted as gatekeepers to the world’s most valuable musical repertoires — so much so that the US Department of Justice took action that same year to balance the scales: read more.