Running a label is a service industry. First, you serve the artist, but following a close second, you serve that artist's audience. You're a general contractor between the architect and the home owners. For me, there shouldn't be side-benefit to that, as in additional profit from [what I consider] slimy practice. It's like installing a floor and selling the leftovers rather than leaving them for the homeowners or returning them for a refund for the homeowners. Maybe not the best analogy, but it's good enough to represent the gist of how I see it. You always act in the best interest of the artist or their audience. If you're following that rule, it doesn't leave any room for vaulting. It doesn't fall within the parameters of serving either; thus, crappy. It isn't that I think a label should be a thankless job, just that money should be flowing through you and not to you. As for artist operated labels selling their product, there's obviously some gray area there, but it's still kind of dingy to do.
