Jake,
I completely agree with you. I actually have made three songs streaming at myspace and thesixtyone and have been looking into other sites but have been a bit wigged out at their terms.
also i signed up for a website which sends out a digital press kit to various sources for internet radio play and reviews but so far that hasn't really yielded much.
I also have been focusing my efforts mostly on the progrock side of things and gave out digital copies to different internet prog stations.
i don't do this out of stubborness but more because i am not sure what other venues to start posting at other than what i know which is the prog side of things.
i am doing research on more just regular alt rock or metal websites to post info on but so far i have been overwhelmed.
As for the label, i agree that a label's distro power and resources would definitely be a plus but part of me is really trying to keep this on my own imprint and see where i can go. Not to mention the labels i ahve spoken to have all pretty much agreed that the one thing holding them back from signing or investing in me is lack of momentum.
So i am hoping that if the first 1000 cds can be sold in a reasonable amoutn of time and i can show some "growth potential" it might make us look better.
but if i am doing ok on my own and we are reaching my ultimate goal of having a self-sustaining label then i may not be interested in signing away potential profit to another person. =)