In reply to ImpressiveInstant.

Um. Maverick wasn't an independent label. It was set up through Time Warner and Warner Bros. Records. Furthermore Madonna never technically recorded for Maverick. They just put the name and logo on her releases as a courtesy to her and to further promote the company. And while Prince has released music independently, it was never a long term thing and was usually when he just wanted to put out something spur of the moment. Whenever he put extra effort into a new album that he intended to promote, it was always released through a major. And Michael never released anything independently either. His MJJ Music was through Sony, but it NEVER released any of his own albums. From 1975 until post death, Epic Records has released all of his music. Madonna, Michael and Prince all had vanity labels set up through the MAJOR labels they were signed to, and those vanity labels didn't control their music. This thing Janet's doing is totally different. She's NOT with a major label system, which is suspect. No major (or once major) artist goes completely independent unless they have to. Janet is doing this most likely because she couldn't find a major label willing to sign her or give her what she thought she deserved. Madonna, Michael and Prince never suffered through such a scenario.