@a0b872c9 My point is they never got knocked down because they will (and have historically) spend large amounts of money to consume competitors and to control distribution (and airplay). The amount of money they were dangling in front of indie record labels back in the late 90s/early 2000s was a lot (not everyone bit, of course, and they resorted to all kinds of "we own you but you keep creative freedom" type deals that worked well for a few people for a little while during the buying frenzy). 

 @b92b6163 sure; money talks, alas...