While this is true for big bands, smaller bands (if they have a handle on marketing online) can do amazing things on their own. Sure, you have to put in way more of the work yourself, but you get to keep that money, and you can afford to do smaller costs. I’m friends with a band that has made over $1000 a show (pretty good for a band never on tour yet) and they got a record offer. They turned it down because they want full creative control over their brand, and they instead took it as a sign that they’re doing the right things as a band.

They won’t have tens of thousands of dollars to put behind each and every thing they do compared to if they were signed, but their freedom was worth taking that chance in their opinion. Super cool to hear them talk about.