A lot of boutique labels are just sub(-sub) labels ran under the big three. Including metal. Often they’re ran by artists under contract with one of those thre

A lot of boutique labels are just sub(-sub) labels ran under the big three. Including metal. Often they’re ran by artists under contract with one of those three big labels and their big sublabels, mostly as a perk/favor to those artists. They have a bit more creative freedom and leeway who they sign, but the money is still kicked upward and the marketing and recording budget still comes from upstairs.