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The mainstream music biz screwed up over MTV,they started putting hundredes of thousands or more into videos of the few who were videogenic.Meanwhile MTV diversified their programming in the effort to hold viewers longer-remember TV's biz is selling audience to advertisers so the number of slots was diminishing,the cost of promotting artists was going up so they stppoed promoting acts that sold less .The big labels were so committed to this model that they didn't even see the next phase,ie internet coming,and their initial repsonse was to make it a turf war,whcih cost them money to fight,and they didn't really win.They could have taken advantage of the new technology,as their predecessors in the record biz had when records were new,and when stereo was new ,and loud rock and roll,and multitracking etc. The advantage to signing with a big label that wants 90% of the gross is they control enormous promo and distribution machines. I'm sure Sting didn't get signed cause someone heard him giving his stuff away and playing for free hoping,he was organized and goal oriented about success-it doesn't fall on people.It is possible to build a career by putting effort into distribution and promotion etc.Definately it costs alot more do do everything these days it's much harder. Ani DiFranco is a good example of someone did all that stuff herself.Though she made it playing to a niche audience. So start a cult if you want to be a succesful. _________________________________________________________________ Play Flexicon: the crossword game that feeds your brain. PLAY now for FREE. http://zone.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_hmtagline