Just got back home from SXSW in Austin. Is it impossible for the independent label/artist to get airplay anymore? Do the big labels control every record that's sold at retail? Can a lessor-known artist still get a break by sending out cd's. I see so many extremely talented people who shud be big-time but only make it regionally. Does it still take a rich, sugar daddy to grease someone's palm to get airplay or promoted at Tower/Goody's/sound whse/or any no. of indy fm stations out there? WHERE DO THE BIG BREAKS COME FROM? Consider me a naive and disappointed fan of all good music because a real pro that I love and respect told me today that payola is more prevalent than ever and audience tastes are dictated by the bigshots at the big labels.