Labels

YOU NEED A LABEL:
1. If you are a pop artist, writing hits.
You need a label to push you to the Global top 50 playlist on Spotify and then on to radio. BTW, that's how it works now. Spotify hit before radio hit. You don't need albums here. You need hits. Harder done than said.

2. If you are a Country artist. Anything that happens in Nashville is about 5 years behind pop world. You still need a major to get you to radio. In 5 years, this will probably change, but you still need the radio distribution. This is a club of Nashville good ole boys. If you're not in the club, you're out of the club.

3. If you are a Christian artist. Again, they are about 5-10 years behind pop world, and you need the distribution to radio. They will be the last to transition as Christians in general love to hold on to old traditions at all costs, thinking that it might skew the message if the communication tools/methods change.

IF YOU DON'T FIT INTO ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES,

"You DON'T need a label. You need a COMMUNITY!"
(Quoted by Bob Lefsetz)

Find a community that you can fit into. You need some place your music can go. A group of followers that already exists. A group of fanatics and fans that will love your music. People that go outside the box, that aren't looking for the big radio hits. 
IF you don't have a community that your music can fit into, you will have HUGE problems. 
There are communities for almost everything. You just have to find it and seek it out!