my sympathies Pauline. However as Hyman Roth says in Godfather 2 - this is the business we are engaged in.
You don't let the assholes decide whether you are going to be a musician or not.
Another thing that you will find is that people come to work with you as supplicants. Before you know it - they (and their dog) know far more about the music business than you do.

It's human nature you are fighting against. Take the project as far as you can. Own as much of the hardware as you can. Be the businessman/front man as much as possible - that way when the miscreant goes forth to favour someone else with his genius - he doesn't take too much.

all the best

al