Numerous blogs and blog comments have hailed the internet as the slayer of domineering record labels. Now the "hated" A&R men and women (hated by a lot of unsigned bands, at least) would become obsolete because music fans and artists could bypass traditional ways of connecting with each other. But if the music industry is so screwed, why do young artists keep signing to labels, and major labels at that? Why aren't they all using sites such as Jamendo or self-releasing? Why, when the audience has the choice of tens of millions of tracks, do they still gravitate so heavily towards musicians signed to–mostly major–labels?Because the "machine"–as imperfect and unscrupulous as it can be–when it works, is incomparable. Sales, promotion, loaded Rolodexes, and financial might all behind you, what newbie is gonna look that in the eye and walk away? Of course, they may be referred to as sell outs by people who expect of artists the kinds of financial compromises they themselves aren't willing to assume, so fuck 'em.
[h/t EarFarm]
