Where's the problem? Even if the article is true.
Artist use other means to get fans to buy albums. Whether its dropping your price to 99 cent on black friday or everybody getting a copy of your album during a talk show tapping. Samsung brought a million of Jayz album to package it with a phone. Hell, if Beyonce didnt come thru like a thief in the night with 100 videos her fate could have been different.
The fact that she even had the option to just START A LABEL is kind of a book in itself. Cause her peers and the others cant and wont do it.