It seems like no one understands what a record deal is. Or an advance. Or publishing rights.

No one needs to sign a record deal. Or take an advance (which is a loan).

It’s like VC money. There are plenty of threads here which recommend not taking VC money and bootstrapping instead.

And yes, some artists self fund, self publish and self-upload. I’m not defending Spotify or streaming rates, just saying platitudes don’t seem sufficiently nuanced or informed.