Well, not exactly. The labels still make a piece off of the Yourmusic/BMG type sales, but the artists don't.
Again, not a problem since it's stipulated to in the contract, but in terms of the immediate distribution of funds, the artist sees the same results eitehr way. Long term, it can be argued that the monies the labels make from these type sales goes back into the company as general revenue, which in tem keeps the company profitable, blahblahblah.
Bottom line for me is thi - whatever "path" one takes in the pursuit of obtaining recorded music, just do it with your eyes open and make sure that at some point in the chain the right people get the right amount of money somehow.
Beyond that, it's a free country. Carpe diem.
Don't you mean caveat emptor?