Re: majors & self released music

Less and less - recently a number of the big labels have been rationalising - and that has included droping people who don't make large sales.

I agree with this point. I am from Dublin, and over the last 10-12 years there have been a few Dublin Bands (good bands too) who have signed to major labels and were then dropped after 1 or two albums. This doesn't really give much of a chance to the band to develop their music and establish an international audience. Compare this to I.R.S. when they signed REM. They gave them a five album deal straight up.