Starting from scratch again. New bands, new names, new fanbases to establish. 5 years or more is what is behind many many bands and artists who were just getting themselves known but not yet on the brink of success. Last year Big Bad Voodoo Daddy got their deal after 7 or 8 years of playing their unique Swing sound, long before this year s flavor of the month industry recognized they had something worthwhile. That will definitely do it.
Musicians play music.
That is all there is to it. If you are quitting because you feel that the people you think are important haven t properly recognized your talents, than you have your head on backwards. Look at all the outcasts of this world who were rejected in some way by the so-called gatekeepers of the industry. The media blasted the Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa, The Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, the Butthole Surfers. Hell, even Pink Floyd s Dark Side of the Moon was panned by rock n roll writers when it first came out.