Things are so much different today in music (not so much in film). Record industry blacklists you because they actually had to pay you after having a number 1 hit? Fuck 'em. Record and release your own shit. It's risky, but certainly way more doable than it was in the 80s and 90s and you already have an audience plus some money to live on while you get going.
That's not to say it's not hard work, but it was almost impossible back then.