Maybe this came out a bit wrong on my part, sorry.
No, I wasn't suggesting record companies should start recruiting programs in schools, though some record execs would no doubt love the idea. This isn't new anyway: Providing underfunded schools with much-needed equipment in exchange for classroom time (e.g. doing market research for certain products) is a widespread (and loathsome) practice in many poor school districts in the US, for example. In no way would I want that.
But major record companies still have too much money, as 3 album EMI deals for 80 million prove. Why spend huge sums trying to 'protect' their catalogue of current artists by trying to stop downloading instead of supporting people's musical talents, regardless of whether they reap the immediate benefits or not? I think it seems safer to bank on the fact that people who make music (most of whom will never make music professionally) generally buy more music themselves and get others to do the same, than on some abstract notion of 'protecting the shareholder value of record companies' or whatever through classroom indoctrination.
Not very practical, I know, but the majors must for their own good come round to the facts and see they cannot continue flogging dross at inflated prices, or they will go bust. And they can't defeat p2p. Giving away free musical equipment with no strings attached is, if you will, one way of atoning for their many wrongdoings. The bastards might even profit from it.
Re.: Dizzee. I mentioned him because everyone knows the story of him putting together beats on a school computer. But what if he'd never had access to one? Of course you are right about stage/radio time, phone numbers and contacts, but the equipment problem is a huge and sometimes insurmountable hurdle to many potential music makers, don't just think London grime. By virtue of the existing culture and available infrastructure, any grime MC in the UK is in an infinitely better position than most other aspiring artists in many countries of the world.
Oh, and if writing Robbie Williams tunes wasn't enough to qualify you for the 'unscrupulous' category, Chambers has also worked for (deep breath) Hilary Duff, Natasha Bendingfield, Busted, Mel C, Jewel, Kylie Minogue and a long, long etc.
'Underperforming artists on EMI' e.g. Mariah Carey? EMI/Virgin paid her almost $30 million to get out of their 5-album deal with her...