HYPEBOT: What are the odds of succeeding without a record deal?

Note: Too many bands get dropped shortly after signing with major labels (arguably one big conglomerate) and feel humiliated and deflated so I don't agree with major label signing as the answer, although a true organic indie label (not the ones stemming from major labels) is a good alternative. However, I thought some comments were interesting and at least this gives good info on what goals you want to reach with number of downloads, gigs, etc. as an independent.

MTT Weekly Recap: What are the odds of succeeding without a record deal? http://bit.ly/kZABA3

— hypebot (@hypebot) June 25, 2011

Do Social Networks Really Help Musicians? http://bit.ly/lvQ3Dz

— Music Think Tank (@musicthinktank) June 9, 2011

Do Social Networks Really Help Musicians? Revisited http://bit.ly/j2qv1U

— hypebot (@hypebot) June 14, 2011

Think for yourself

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 3, 2014

Nobody own my publishing either. That's the shit that I'm on

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 3, 2014

I'm just tryin to get my syncs up ...real song writer shit. That's where the $$ at

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 3, 2014

@speakz and with no major label signing

— Alan vanzzini (@Innov8dthoughts) October 5, 2014

I'm a lot of things . Fake is not one.

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 10, 2014

I wanna do everything creative. Whatever makes me happy. Just gonna do it on my terms & not allow myself to get boxed in.

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 3, 2014

It's not just about rap for me.never been.It's about feeding the insatiable appetite to make the cool weird shit I see in my head real

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 3, 2014

I like when I see people stopped at the light or driving by and they're singing along to the music in their car loud as fuck.

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 10, 2014

It's healthy to sing. Even if you suck at it and sound horrible. It's good for the heart.

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 10, 2014

Any other life questions? I'm here to help

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 5, 2014

Here for no reason at all is a picture of me and Warren Buffett. #richgang pic.twitter.com/cL0UPdUSqX

— SPEAK (@speakz) October 6, 2014

One word that all musicians should know and live by...... PERSEVERANCE

— Gabriel Ayala (@ayalaguitarist) April 23, 2014