Part 12/13:
The industry’s new guard often advocates for artistic independence and criticizes label practices, claiming mistreatment and advocating for better protections for minors. Yet, many industry insiders stress that signing contracts is a decision made with full awareness, and labels offer the infrastructure to succeed at a large scale. The challenge is balancing artistic vision with commercial realities—while some artists, like Chapel Ran, take extensive time between projects, others face pressure to produce consistently.