Yes, it seems quite hip really nowadays to be a 'free agent'. People feel like major labels are just going to screw them over.
Yeah I guess escaping YouTube's censorship is a very good reason to come to Steemit. However, I do hope that does not attract too many very controversial people. I have already seen some content on here that is quite questionable. I do wonder how many other (and better?) Steemits will be out there in a year or two. It's an exciting and quite unpredictable development still, so let's see how well Steemit does in the long run!
Yeah, the music I listen to does depend a lot on my activities as well. I have quite a few playlists on Spotify that actually help me concentrate better if anything.
I was thinking about this comment thread yesterday while filling out tax return forms ... not a particularly enjoyable task, nor one that requires much focus, just busy paper work. There was annoying ambient noise and indeed, I did notice the effect you describe by listening to some ambient/industrial sound that 'took the edge off' of the annoyance, indeed helping.
I would say that perception of major labels I've considered for quite a long time. My intention was always to get a distribution deal, without any of the 'management' that often kills the artist's creative impetus, if not the artist himself!
I sort of like the controversy, a by-product of free speech, a necessity for social advancement ... Then again, who has time to argue with those who put forth ideas that must be put down? Like weeds in a garden can dominate to the point of the garden no longer yielding viable life. I suppose word of mouth without direct confrontation can keep bad ideas from flourishing. I myself am suspect of anything that looks 'too establishmentary'.