I agree that it's work and tbh, they are kinda owned to a larger extent for as long as they are under contract with the label. It owns all their rights to a lot of things exclusively. There's a lot that they can't control while under contract. They can't work with whoever they want, say whatever they want, do whatever they want, or aren't allowed to drive, etc unless their label says yes.
Yeah welcome to... working life and being under a contract. That no one forced you to sign.
I've worked before under contracts that had heavy stipulations on what other work I can do, where I can live, who I can date/socialise with, what I'm allowed to do with my hair, if I can get tattoo's, that I was not allowed to own or drive a vehicle...
That was for English teaching in Japan!
