The advantage of a record label is that they can get your CD distributed to stores and send out promos to radio stations. On the other hand, if you are not that well known, you aren't going to sell many CD's in stores (not unless you get on a listening post, and that's a different racket as well). I've been making recordings with my singing partners for the past 18 years or so. We have always done things ourselves, because the bulk of our sales is reflected in the number of concerts we do a year. People see us, like what they hear, and buy a recording. Sales through catalogues and stores are nice, but we aren't selling like the Beatles. From the stories I've heard about various labels, I don't feel sorry that we have taken care of things ourselves. If you want to hear the story of a well known folk label doing us a favor by turning us down, email me at Coopnel@aol.com and I'll be glad to relate the whole story.