Mark has some good ideas that I hope Apple explores.
Many people are panning iTunes, but the more I think about it, the more I find reason to hope that independent artists may have found a very, very powerful distribution method and a way to earn some bucks. Having a song downloaded just a few thousand times could rake in the kind of money to finance writing another song!
You make a great point. I believe digital distribution services like apple iTunes offer a bright future for independent music, if the major label choke hold can be broken on online distribution. Mp3.com started out as a bastion of independent music but but was eventually swallowed up by Vivendi Universal.
I hope all independent artists eventually get to feel the benefit of itunes not just those on majors or selected few indie labels.