Music is a wonderful, spiritual entity. A song is created and lives in the spiritual realm. It only becomes part of this physical realm, when played. 

Recording a song is like painting a picture. It immortalizes a thought, feeling, or impression. An artist's painting and a songwriter's song, can and most times do, outlive the artist. In fact, most artists will never be recognized, and some will only be recognized after they are dead. With all this in mind, a true artist continues to practice art for only one reason, we have to. It's more than just a passion, it's who we are.  

If you want cookie cutter, it's all been done before music, go to a major label. They only release music that sounds like money to them. 

Of course, most major label releases make no money, at all. The sound of money is very deceiving. It can look like money, and sound like money, but in the end, it's more like something that the cat dragged in, and the dog wouldn't eat!