Time and tide.

While I know that no one has actually asked, I still have a sense that a lot of people wonder why it takes their favorite artists or band so long to release a new project. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I have some ideas. If you were to have a successful single, let say, in December, and that got the attention of a major record label, you could end up being signed in January. OK, lets say your deal is for two singles and one album over an eighteen month or two year period. Now, lets say that the first single is due for release in June and the album in September, and the second single some time after that. And, lets say that you went right to work after being signed and completed enough songs for two albums, all before the beginning of March. I don't think that you would be sitting on your hands for three months, but that would mean that six months would pass from December to June before your next release, while two albums are just sitting in the can. This may or may not be how things really work, but it gives you an idea of how contractual agreements can have a bearing on when an artist releases his/her work. This is just one thing that I was thinking about. There are other things to consider, like personal problems which are too many to mention. Once you get away from those, there could be conflicts within a band. Someone may quit before a project can be completed, and bringing in someone to fill in can cause delays as they will have to learn what needs to be done. You might think that a DIY artist wouldn't experience any of these situations. Since you're running everything, you could record a track one day and upload it that same night. But, if your goal is to continually improve on what you've already done, it's more likely that you're going to labor on it for as long as it takes to satisfy your creative muse. Then, there's the concept of running your label just like the majors. You may want to delay the release of new material until you've gone out and test driven it first. Or, you might want to run a promotional campaign to help build anticipation for the new project. And finally, if you're DIY, there's the idea of working ahead. In case your album or single should meet with success, it's probably a good idea to have something held on reserve to offer up in that event. Something that no one has heard yet could provide you with a real coup if the majors should come knocking. At any rate, most often it's more likely that the artist or band just wants to keep giving you the best that they've got.