This is not true. Can you give some examples of "guys with artistic integrity, no matter how talented, end up getting shafted and remain unknown" in this day and age? The true fact is, that in 2011, if someone is that talented, its a lot easier to get known simply because of the infiltration of the internet. Do you think someone like Sufjan Stevens or Bon Iver would've gotten any sort of notice back in the 90s? Shops matter even less. Digital infiltration is considered as important, if not more important, than hard copy. Digital infiltration is also more flexible with the amount of ways that it can be promoted.

Noel has the money to self-produce and self-promote this album entirely on his own if he wants to without even putting the slightest scratch to his bank account. He won't be signed to a "traditional" record contract where he has to record X amount of albums in X amount of years. The only thing he needs is intl distribution, which a number of labels would be happy to do without even hearing a note.

What you said is true in certain ways, but it only goes to artists that are completely unknown and going into their first forays with a major label. Acts that don't have a commercial track record. It doesnt matter that this is Noel's first solo effort. The UK market knows Noel and what he's accomplished and his success there with Oasis gives him about a 1000 mile headstart over an unknown. The UK market comes first for Noel, everything else is secondary.

The question to Noel is what kind of success he wants to go for. He can still maintain his own artistic integrity/vision doing whatever the fuck he wants to successfully without placating a fossil in a suit.