I'm not sure you get how the music industry works. Getting a record contract isn't quite like getting a CS degree, passing a coding interview, and being handed 125k and benefits by HR. But sure, all these musicians are just dumb idiots. Have some respect for artists (unless you hate music, I guess).

There was time before streaming that artists absolutely needed record labels and that was the set of circumstances under which they signed deals with record labels. Before Youtube and streaming services record labels provided distribution of your product to local markets as well as promotion of that product in local markets both in stores and on radio. The overwhelming majority of the big 3 records label's catalogs are from that era. How exactly does that constitute "dumb decisions musicians make?" Your logic is absurd and seems to predicated on somehow being able to predict the future.

I bet you also think grocery workers are dumb for agreeing to work while demanding better working conditions and fair pay.

They are not dumb decisions. An indie artist HAS to sign with labels if they want to make it in the industry. That's the way it's been and we've accepted for decades that that's the way it will be.

Mistreating workers is not okay. Workers joining the status quo to make a living is not dumb. Calling them "dumb" online is deplorable, however.

It's something that's changing drastically every day. An indie artist is more and more able to record and upload their own song to spotify today than any time before.

Just being able to upload to Spotify does not make a sustainable career. You need marketing, and you need to build up a wide and loyal following of people who will buy your stuff.

Do you know you have to pay the distributors to upload? Its not like YouTube. From the getgo you are paying someone.

Artists have literally shown up in the comments here explaining that it's not that simple, and that these rates are issues for people who sign to small/indie labels and even artists who own their own labels.

Also, "if you're abused it's your own fault for being dumb" is usually a take you want to be pretty careful with.

Being unable to monetize a hobby is not abuse.

Why don't you become a musician and try to make it before laying it out like this? They hardly have another choice. Do you immediately assume 95% of artists are entrepreneurial fools?

There are lots of musicians who aren't producing a living-wage's worth of value to listeners.

They do have a choice: they can get a better paying job if they don't like the amount they can earn from music. Society should not be responsible for funding someone's passion when there isn't demand.

And yes, the expectation that you can earn a good living just by being a recording artist is foolish. The vast majority of musicians throughout history have been unable to do so.

You sound like my Dad (who was right).

Get a better paying job is very easy in this business. The lowest of the low would be better paying.