Can believe. I was involved with a digital music startup once, and learned that the labels take the vast majority of the sticker price. The artist would make bank from concerts, but only took home maybe 5%. The songwriter got majorly screwed with 0.5%. The reason they gave was their ‘distribution channels’. Digital distribution was supposed to get rid of this bullshit. Dunno if this has changed.

I feel this is the same with engineers versus the c-level 'idea people’s. Talent (i.e. the people doing the work) is grossly underpaid. Turns out passion doesn’t pay the bills most of the time.