It looos like it started early on when they had no idea how big they would get and let their producers take over copyrights. The money isn’t in performing, it comes from licensing.

Well, it's standard in the industry from what I've read cause producers and recording companies front the money for the cost to produce the records, demos for radio stations, right?

Yes, they assume risk, but after an artist is established they should have some control over their creative product.

Absolutely but power resulting in high dollar reward corrupts.

Yes, it does corrupt.