Not in all cases Everett....only generally true for less established artists where sales are unpredictable....and there are a host of arrangements in between that depend on the product and the buyer' power relative to the seller's power, which determines return policies, prices, selling terms etc...

And as far as the CD's appearing from thin air, sometimes that duck really IS a duck. Don't discount the manufacturer producing more than contracted for and selling them out the back door. Not saying this IS the case here, but it IS a historical fact...and once these items enter the mainstream channels, really, who's to know their provenance?

If writing ever becomes work I think I'm going to have to stop