>>Now with the digital revolution anyone can produce an album start to finish in their basement—with absolute control over the project and the same return: zero. :)<<
But it is a lot more fun!
Music is like softball. People do it because they enjoy doing it.
For a homebody like me, absolutely. And that's a good point you made. Most people don't expect to get paid playing softball--they just do it cause it's fun.
Amateurs do it that way. The world of professional music is not a hobby.