Not having your records released by a major label is not the same thing as not working with a major management company or a major booking agency... According to Pollstar, Natalie Merchant is booked by CAA which is one of the largest agencies in the nation. I imagine she's still repped by a major PR firm, too. CAA would book tours through (possibly Clear Channel owned) venues; the PR company would handle bookings to television for promotion. We'll see how this all pans out as time goes on, I guess.