"A lot of big labels will just sign bands like a write off"

Adam Rich's quote is a commentary on the music market and the way in which significant record labels often sign bands without much idea or factor to consider. He is suggesting that these labels will sign bands without doing any research study or due diligence, just as a way to write off their losses. This suggests that the labels are not thinking about the success of the bands they sign, but rather in the monetary benefits they can get from them. This is a cynical view of the music market, and it recommends that the labels are more concerned with their own monetary gain than with the success of the bands they sign. It is a reminder that the music market is a service, and that the labels are seeking to earn a profit.