I'm excited about the possibilities of MP3's. The goal is to affect as many people as possible with the music. It just so happens that goes hand in hand with getting a major label deal. It still seems like the best way to really get out there. It takes a lot of money to record and tour and promote- not to mention the connections needed to get certain opportunities.
Major labels have all of that.
It's just too bad that they also have most of the control. Not to be negative, but it seems that no matter what, the artist suffers a bit. Yeah, some of my fave bands have been on major labels and then dropped. And then of course, Aimee Mann. Her struggles are a good example of the dilemma artists face.