I suspect that it's not an all at once thing. Probably more like the downward progression of a heroin addict. Dying piece by piece. Selling yourself a bit at a time. The first recording contract is that initial high. But then you find out that if you don't keep playing ball you'll never get a recording studio to rent to you or a producer to work with you. And you desperately need another hit of that fame and glory and money. So you do a silly little ritual with Abramovich or someone just like her. Not that big of a deal, nothing you have to keep doing (you're only sucking dick for drugs just this one time). Bit by bit the rewards get thinner and the humiliation gets worse.
I think that many artists wouldn't sign if they knew the total cost. But it seems so reasonable on an installment plan.
