I have a question. Why would Vanessa finance the album if she has a label? I'm not sure how the independent label works. Is that what the artists do?
I know more about major labels.
I'm not quite sure but I figure she left her label then made that album on her own, paying for it. And when it was done looked for someone to distribute it. This way they don't have any musical direction or suggestion to give her, she's free. And she can just come with the final product and say : that's it, do you want it or not?
That's exactly what she did.
My friend did that - left her label, went and made her album and THEN went and looked for a deal. That way they have full creative control. I'm pretty sure if a label said "well, we like this Vanessa but could you do something else?" Vanessa would swipe the CD outta the label execs hand and say "sayonara, biatch" & strut on out. If she had signed the contract beforehand, she'd have no choice but to go back and record new stuff.