> but it’s not like the record companies are signing _everyone_. They still sign bands that they think will generate at least some notable amount of profit. Th

> but it’s not like the record companies are signing _everyone_. They still sign bands that they think will generate at least some notable amount of profit. That doesn’t really change the point. If you want to argue the math of lottery tickets, you can’t just take the single case of the person who wins the jackpot and state “So obviously the lottery is the best investment ever seen”. And arguing, as I am, this that you would need to consider also all the individuals who don’t win the jackpot, can’t be dismissed simply by saying “but everyone who buys a ticket is hoping that their buying the one which wins the jackpot”. Now again let me emphasize, I’m not saying record companies aren’t screwing artists. What I’m saying is that you can’t claim to be arguing the math, if you don’t consider all the cases, but only consider the obvious winner selected after the fact.