“If a band moves to a major label, it does not necessarily guarantee the band’s success. Only about 1 in 10 CDs released by major labels make any profit for the label. It is possible for an artist to make more money producing and promoting their own CDs than signing with a major label. However, an independent label that is creatively productive is not necessarily financially lucrative. Independent labels are often one-or two-person operations with almost no outside assistance and run out of tiny offices.This lack of resources can make it extremely difficult for a band to make revenue from sales. One thing an artist can consider doing if they want to be noticed by a major label is starting their own independent label. A successful independent label with a strong musical reputation can be very appealing to a major label. Major labels rely on independent labels to stay current within the ever-changing music scene. Independent labels are often very good at discovering local talent and promoting specialized genres.”Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_(music)#Going_major_versus_staying_indie