No, it makes it a better deal. It is up to each individual to decide whether compensation is worth their time.
Now, if exposure is misrepresented, it may be fraud. If you say "we're going to print 100,000 copies" and only print 1,000, that would be deceptive. If you say you will offer a book for sale, and do, but fail to sell to anyone but the artists involved, that is unlikely to be fraud. It is a poor business decision by the artists.
No, it makes it a better deal. It is up to each individual to decide whether compensation is worth their time.
Now, if exposure is misrepresented, it may be fraud. If you say "we're going to print 100,000 copies" and only print 1,000, that would be deceptive. If you say you will offer a book for sale, and do, but fail to sell to anyone but the artists involved, that is unlikely to be fraud. It is a poor business decision by the artists.