Tae see oorsel's as others see us. Or something like that.
To Gargoyle's rare but valid point.
In the past, all artists struggled until some company would take them on for a "Budget" recording. If the album failed, they were dropped but often remained tied up in some kind of contract for a while.
If they were successful, they were immediately tied into contracts which would keep them in poverty but provide some kind of fame.
Today, these companies and promoters pick up young bands, help them to produce albums which they cannot afford and put them out on the road with very little in the way of support or wages until they are beyond exhaustion. Slave Labour.
The independent artist can and does, sit in his/her office, manufacture his/her own albums, hire his/her own producer & studio, book his/her own gigs and create his/her own promo without ever leaving the swivel chair and would be a fool not to.
The technology is here and the timing is right.
Nothing at all to do with royalties but a noteworthy observation, none the less.
The less successful you are today, the better. In some ways.