[davidw]

Originally Posted by Winterworks

Artists have to record one album or song, and they get the money for it, forever. I don't understand why they get so much money from just one song (or album), when other people in the world actually have to work as hard as they can day and night to make some decent money.

I think you are somewhat naive on how a record/album is produced - the process from production to end-user. Many artists struggle to make it on what little the receive from their part/share of what they create when they use major-labels to produce their music. I by far am no expert on the process, however, I know a couple bands (the members respectively) from their startup - one didn't make it and the other is currently doing tours.