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I agree that independence is something larger names can risk. Most others will need the power and money of a major record label behind them if they are ever to become big names. Prince "emancipated" himself from Warner Bros. a long time ago and has been successfully recording on his own label - Paisley Park - for a while now. I still think record labels and the RIAA need to rethink their model as digital media continues to infiltrate every aspect of business and consumerism, or they will continue to be in conflict with what people want.

I do think myspace and other means of self-promotion have their place, but I think struggling artists will continue to rely on the major labels for promotion until they have an established and loyal fan base.

I realize Prince has been independent for a while, but with Radioheads announcement media outlets are rehashing other artists who've attempted similiar moves as though it's all happened at once!

And it's not just the labels that may need to change things, artists, Pearl Jam comes to mind, have long railed against TicketMaster and their ridiculous surcharges which keep "real fans" out of attendence. Maybe artists like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails, who can sell out a stadium in no time, will be able to circumvent TicketMaster soon too.

Yeah basically all of the traditionalists need to put on the new wheels and stop fighting change. Whether they like it or not digital technology is not a here today-gone tomorrow fad and it is really changing the way everyone does business.