not strictly true re payment against sales, i know guys with labels who have made one-off payments for an ep and artists who've asked for a one off payment depending on their current financial situations.... things are alot more flexible with things such as that these days what with the ever-growing amount of labels and relationships between label owners and artists...

re mastering well that depends on the label and what cutting house they use, and the engineer of course... alot use Curvepusher for Lauries expertise, correct me if im wrong....