The fundamental problem with the entertainment industry is the huge gap between the tiny demand for talent and the huge oversupply of it. To say that the exploitation of talent is caused by corrupt intent is conflating cause with effect.

The dark side of human nature thrives anytime a supply/demand curve is way out of whack. In this case, there will never be a solution unless humans become less corruptible and/or there is an adjustment in the balance between the number of people seeking “stardom” and the amount of work available.