I have never talked to anyone that worked at a record label, been to a recording studio or ever created anything in my life or know anything about how the industry actually works but I have a friend who is in a cover band and I am white male who went through college so that means I played guitar before I became a system admin so here's my opinion about a business paradigm that is dying because big fat cats smoke cigars in board rooms instead of giving music away free, which is a viable business model and the reason why Radiohead charged for their last album. Also, bands write albums full of filler. They purposefully write one hit song and then release filler because they love having one hit song and then watching their career tank.

Alphax: I was serious, and not trying to be hipster. Just illustrating the control the major labels have over US radio.

I was going to post a snarky hipster picture, then I checked your profile. Looks like you already got that covered.

$1.9 billion, that's cute. Apple spent that last week on a company that runs their on-campus shoe-shine business.

Alphax: 40% of the American music industry, or worldwide?

Most of my favorite bands are either foreign, and/or on small labels. So I don't hear any of them on local radio, ever.

My favorite bands don't even have recording contracts.