a combo of everything that has been mentioned.

plus like you said album sales died. if a performer wants to get cake he has to go on the road. i for one would be damned if i am going to go out and work hard miss my family and friends so i can pay a dude who has admitted he can does 5 beats a day, to sit at home.

producers need to do what edm producers do, also what mannie fresh said in the other post. they need to learn to dj. then they can hit the road and make good money djing parties. shit porn stars do it too, shoot the video (what they get a couple of grand for that) go out on tour stripping. even former presidents do it, leave office, start the speaking tours.