Major labels survive because they've got the money and the relationships with radio. If you want to compete you have to have the money and relationships. Until mainstream ratio's hold is broken, the major labels will sustain. Mainstream radio has the ability to garner and maintain an audience. No one wants to go where no one else is. Until the Internet there was very little "off the grid" radio that we knew of. Now though music is like information, it is infinite.
Soundscan is accurate as they get their "accurate" numbers from the declining record stores, sales no longer mean anything, gross does. Look at your bottom line by adding your recording and streaming revenues, ticket, merchandise and sponsorship dollars then decide if you are winning or not.
Spotify helped Universal's number, if you believe streaming is the death of music and there are no dollars involved, you would be wrong. The truth is there are more recordings than ever and there are fewer than ever that "steal" music. You Tube is the new radio. Not everybody is listening to the same radio station, but everybody has You Tube at their fingertips. Its America's radio, just check the views of the "monster" hits.
Albums are an ever growing thing of the past. Look at it from the perspective of the listener, no one has time to let your music percolate, they don't want to pay for "crap." You need to understand the listener today creates their own "one hit" playlist, and its not easy to create that One Hit. Singles are the new way of making money, if you have a CD full of certifiable smashes, then release an LP. Remember, this week's "hit" will soon be forgotten, even an unbelievable publicity campaign cannot change that, there is always next weeks "hit."
Just Sayin ... Turn It UP ~~~~
