Did you miss the part about the advance paying for producers, studio time, mixing engineers, mastering, hotels (unless you actually live in the same city as the studio) travel to the studio and sometimes, the manager gets up to 20% of the top or of the net (if there is anything left that is).

I was just in a top North American studio for a week. Band had gotten a good deal on it and paid $7k for the use of the studio just to mix. That was CHEAP! On top came fees for mixing engineer which is another $5k - $10.

A top studio cost a couple of g-notes a day. A producer near enough $100k. A top producer more than that. (someone I know managed to get a producer that had produced and co written a couple of global hits that year for 80k and said it was cheap.)

It's all coming out of the advance - mate. Not out of the record company's pocket. The bills add up.

So 3 - 4 months of recording leaves the artist how much of the advance?

Don't think it all gets blown on blow and hookers.

Sure, you can do it cheaper. Find a cheap studio, record it digitally, self produce it, try to keep the costs as low as possible. Split the money between the band members and if you are lucky - you may get a tour that year that can earn you some income. Don't expect being paid while you're out there doing a PR tour. The record company might be paying your flights, hotels and feed you but you don't get paid. Not unless you want them to recoup their entire marketing budget as well as the advance. So there is a chance you could make ooooh, say $50k that year.

If you're lucky.

/E