I'm guessing that record companies are a bit like football teams. (The world can be explained in football terms, in case you haven't noticed....)

Sony invested in her, so they want return on their investment. They either want to see her raise her game and come out with a product they believe will make money for them... Or they want her to buy out her contract... Either way, it's all about the money, not so much about her freedom of artistic direction or her happiness. They feel they can "help her out" (with promotion and high-Q production and the backing cash) and feel that she can "help them out" (by making music that attracts the ladies as well as the men).

Sony probably would have traded her if they could, but I heard that Randy Moss didn't want to go to Sony and went Oakland instead.
:D