Depending more on album sales for revenue is stupid and will keep you very small. Albums are now merchandise, akin to shirts, posters and stickers. You don't get rich off them. If you cater to the fans you'll make some money as they like to collect things and support their band. But compared to other merchandise, albums are probably one of the least valuable.
Labels need to realize they are promotional agencies primarily and take a cut, like acting agencies. You promote them and help them get gigs. You get a cut of the profits in return.
The problem is that there's already a promotional agency which takes a cut - the tour promoter! [0]
That industry is slowly converging to a state of brokenness near that of album-selling record labels, as Live Nation (themselves a Clear Channel spinoff) were allowed to merge with Ticketmaster in 2010 to form a unified ticketing, venue booking, and promotion cabal.
That's not a problem. That is just another player. There are tons of people taking a bite of the pie when it comes to actors. Yet they continue to make a living and so do their agents.
Labels need to realize they are promotional agencies primarily and take a cut, like acting agencies. You promote them and help them get gigs. You get a cut of the profits in return.