Put a little more thought into separating the commercial necessities from artistic ideals.

No band gets a recording contract (and big-time promotion and distribution) with a major label unless someone at the executive level is convinced there's profit to be made.

The Biz is run by business-oriented managerial types who would rather impose product on maleable consumers than allow unpredictable artistic cosiderations put their invested millions at risk. Give your head a shake, man, would you be willing to risk everything you own on the possible success of a band you just met? I've known a lot of people who couldn't take that chance on their own band, let alone someone they don't know.

If artistic purity is paramount, you finance the production and distribution of your own material. The web may provide the means to get your stuff out there, but the big sales numbers come from the kind of push that only the big companies can afford. Like it or not, they feel entitled to have some input on what kind of product they put their dollars behind.

In the much-lamented 70's, there weren't nearly so many people trying to break into the market. What we deal with these days, is a 'mature' industry where a large number of suppliers (bands) are vying for a share of a relatively saturated market. Every other industry in similar circumstances is experiencing similar domination by conglomerates, and homogenization of available product.

The good news is that there is a resurgence of craftsmen in these industries. In music, this is represented by bands formed of people who can afford to make music their way, without having to compromise for the sake of making a living. The word "amateur" means "for the love of doing".

'Sorry to sound so discouraging to anyone who hopes to make their way as a professional musician, but my advice is, if you intend to follow your muse as only you can hear her, you better hang onto your day job.