The independent route is not the problem. The problem is the material. Ashanti needs to put out songs that are irresistibly catchy and that connect with her audience.

In the internet/Soundscan era we live in, even major artists with major label backing (neither of which Ashanti is at present) can't fake a whack single up the charts like they used to be able to do back in the day.

Ashanti is smart, however, to delay the album until she has a hit single out.