Mitchell slates music industry Veteran singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has hit out at the music industry, saying she is "ashamed" to be part of it. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2329001.stm
Regardless of her current (lack of) popularity, she's right. Eddie Vedder would be one of the first to agree. It's one of the slimiest, most non-consumer friendly industries of all time. They've been ripping us all off for years and years.
Fortunately most of the music I listen to is grateful to its consumers and doesn't charge out the wazoo for their products. Most of the stuff I buy isn't a part of the RIAA machine.
Joni Mitchell, at this point in her career, has certainly earned the right to whine about the music industry. But one thing I don't understand is why she, and others who share her opinions (e.g. Pearl Jam), don't just jump ship to an independent label. Or for that matter, why don't they just create their own label. It's not that hard to do, I mean didn't Jenny Toomey or somebody even publish a book about her experiences and how to learn from them?
What was interesting to me is that Dave Matthews Band put their first album out on their own independent label specifically to show a major label that it can be done so they could set their own terms with a major. (If you don't have to do the work, why do it I guess?) They got the deal they wanted and don't have the hassle of distribution.