"Women and minorities hardest hit"
I'm sure you've heard this:

God decided He was finally fed up with the human race and decided to end it for good. He called up a reporter at the New York Times to tell him the news: The world would end the day after tomorrow.
The reporter tried to talk God out of it, but God was firm and wouldn't be swayed. The reporter then asked if he had an exclusive. God said that He was going to call three other newspapers.
Headlines the next day:
The New York Times: "God says world to end tomorrow; story and analysis on page B11."
The Wall Street Journal: "God says world to end tomorrow; market to close early"
USA Today: "IT'S OVER!"
The Washington Post: "God says world to end tomorrow; women and minorities hardest hit."

I can just hear some of my friends thinking, "That's not funny."

Neither is this. Janis Ian and Courtney Love, unlikely to be mentioned together in any other context, have both published lengthy and cogent essays protesting the fact that record companies make far more money than their artists do -- and they even own the music in perpetuity.

Michael Jackson has recently been moved to comment on this same issue -- sort of.

Michael Jackson Slams Treatment of Black Artists
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The self-ordained King of Pop Michael Jackson lashed out at the music industry's treatment of black artists -- including himself -- in an appearance on Saturday with New York civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.
"The record companies really do conspire against the artists," Jackson, 43, told an adoring crowd of around 350 people inside Sharpton's National Action Network headquarters in Harlem. "Especially the black artists."

Mr Jackson has picked an odd time to remember what color he used to be. I mean, I applaud him for speaking up on behalf of artists who can't afford to challenge their record labels, but...

The former boy wonder of the Jackson Five [...] called attention to his own dispute with label Sony Music.
"When you fight for me, you're fighting for all black people, dead and alive," Jackson said.

...is that really what he's doing? Doesn't that sound a little arrogant?

At least people are beginning to figure out what a sweet racket the music industry is... for everyone but the musicians.