As much as we would like to blame artists for the lack of success of their records via poor promotion, marketing, etc, it is actually a smart move. The less overhead you create, the less you owe the record label. So artists like Marsha Ambrosius, Melanie Fiona, and Jazmine Sullivan who write and/or produce their own records may not sell millions of records, but they also do not accumulate millions of dollars worth of debt as they create and control most of the artistic process. But we must also realize that these factors such as promotion, videos, and marketing no longer matter in the new era of media consumption. People can too easily download, youtube, or bootleg an album, so there is no value in making cds. It is a real shame, because the current music era does not appreciate nor support real talent. If you do not have a gimmick, a catchy-single, or look like a model you cannot succeed. Jazmine Sullivan has not put out a bad album yet, and the woman can sing most artists under the table; but she does not get the support she needs to make her a commercially viable artist. I hope Jazmine remains inspired, as her talent exceeds far beyond a 4 minute video, a tight dress, or a makeup contract. I would urge her to go the independent route, tour, and create other artistic enterprises, because in this world of fickle self-hating fans, few artists will get the support their rightfully deserve.