💯 True. Labels can still have a role in a Bitcoin powered music economy, the structure just shifts to being artist led in this model. Something we’ve been discussing alongside @Aaron of Essex @npub1lwfh...cqve and @Angor. An artist led model could mean labels would be beholden (so will the artists) to provide a certain level of service to the artist as a collaborative partner, rather than the asset owner like manner in which many behave. Labels traditionally were helping with artist development, among their other utilities, but this is one of the main things now missing from labels. Artists who understand their worth, leave labels with two choices; - Develop a random manufactured act (Bad labels don’t want this unless they can trick them.) - Work with an established act, who could benefit from further development, but on an agreeable basis Though option one is easy with dangling carrots, the more musicians that turn to NME models, the more fans that use them and budding musicians who are exposed to a different route. Just like tools, labels are not evil, but the people running them can be. 🫡