For anyone unaware, the "music industry" had a brief period around 1960-1978 where they led youth culture and brought some decent artists to the fore, including [everyone]. Which was ironic as they started mostly as a goof by rich people or a front by the mafia.

A "record deal" was always a sucker's deal because they'd loan you $300,000 or whatever and then decide how much you'd paid them back over however many years you made them money. The companies didn't buy videos or tour buses or billboards or anything -they fronted the money and the artist paid for that, usually without knowing it.

Around 1980, in a coke-fueled bender that lasted over a decade, they decided "fuck it" and just screwed everyone they could for every dollar they could. Fortunately, they were so stupid and up their own asses that mp3s destroyed them after a decade of them trying to decide who was going to get fucked more than who else. (Anyone remember the DAT wars?)

Billions were made but the artist usually only saw a small fraction of that because record companies were "riding the gravy train" and living fat off all the money. Nothing has changed. No one is going to wake up. It was always this bad. It's just that being a touring musician used to be at least a job and a career and now it's pretty rare.

If it helps, think of it like this - there's no one in any seat of real power in the "music industry" who is a musician. They don't give a shit about what they're selling, it could be cow pies for all they care - they'd look and act exactly like they do now because it has 100% nothing to do with music. It's just marketing a persona and bilking them for all they can.

And it's been that way the entire time. Yes, there are exceptions, but not many.