Dear Prince,

I have been a fan since 1982. But I must say that after 25 years of listening to your music and following your every move, I am officially done. One person can take only so much crap from an artist that likes to think he is different than the Recording Industry that he fights so often.

What do I mean by this? Well you have said that you are a "slave" to the evil record company and that you were not born to do their bidding. A lot of people were on your side and understood and still understood what you were fighting for. And I commend you for attempting to change the industry.

But by you attacking INDEPENDENT fan sites, that are there to build and drive communities where the sole subject is you, is ludicrous! And it makes you no better than the companies that you "slave" to. Prince wants to control everything that has his image, nay his name on it. What is next? Are you going to attempt to trademark the word Prince, so no one can use it in a sentence? This sounds ridiculous, but so are you for demanding these sites to take down images of you as well.

If I ran sites like Housequake.com or Prince.org, I would simply shut them down. These sites generate tons more traffic than your 3121.com does. (By the way, everyone knows it is horrible design sense to use only flash for one's website.)

Shut them down I say, and let's see who's talking about Prince this time next year.

Start listening to your fans, and stop treating them like criminals. The Prince I grew to love and follow was a maverick, not a dictator.

You have become our Warner Brothers Records, and your fans your "slaves". But not me, not anymore.

Sorry u feel that way.

I can see where youre coming from esp on the subject or where would he be if the main fan sites went and most of his following, but at the end of the day, the internet wasn't that big before and he survived dips in his career... his talent will always prevail and I'm afraid to say even though owning the word 'Prince' would go too far, he does have every right to do what he wants with his music and videos and pics of him

aymiderham said:

I whole-heartedly agree with you. Prince can do what he wants with his likeness and property.

But like I said, it is unfortunate. I have always purchased his music/DVD's and not pirated them. Neither do these sites. But all it does is alienate a lot of fans.

chookalana said:

Yep I agree, you get the feeling he doesn't really care too much about that now, like all he wants to do these days is what he wants whether its popular or not

Well I suppose hes always been like that in a way...

Bye bye!

Dear Prince:

Where are my pancakes!!??? I need pancakes and I need them fast! Please include blueberry pancakes with your next release!!!!!


Sincerely,

A Fan

I understand where you're coming from completely. Prince should be thinking of ways to maintain the fanbase, not piss off and alienate everyone. Lesser artists shower their fans with appreciation, and rightly so IMO, because without the fans' support, they know they'd be nowhere. Just another talented guy flipping burgers somewhere, dreaming of what could've been. This is as true of Prince as it is of anybody else, and The Kid should acknowledge that fact.



That said, one of the first things a person needs to understand when they sign on to the Purple Wagon is that Prince is a self-absorbed asshole. Some fans can accept that, some can't. If you can't, that's fair. We'll keep a seat for you if you change your mind though.

XxAxX said:

I want mine cinnamon apple!

psychodelicide said:

I second this! Don't let the doorknob hit ya where Prince security guard should have kicked ya! j/k

KidaDynamite said:

I'm gonna get a trademark on the period and the cross in the letter T,
Then you'll be mad at his best fan too!

Speak for yourself. I guess you don't know what Prince is really about. Well, have a great life listening to other artists in the popcharts. I prefer real music and great performances.

Music is free now and I'm loving every move Prince makes. Being a fan for a very long time now and it's a crazy ride! He does his own way where other artists won't even dare to go. He is taking risks in style. If you are not up for it: Letitgo...

meow85 said:

Gimme Strawberry! ....with extra whip-cream

psychodelicide said:

chookalana said:

cosign. What Prince has done with YouTube is a crying shame! What the fuck does he think he's doing? He is isolating a generation.

dreamfactory313 said:

I don't think he understands that's what he's doing though. His loss.

I feel your frustration--it's not easy being a Prince fan, not by a longshot. His attitude toward online fan communities is so misguided, so counter-intuitive it's baffling. No other pop artist I know of makes such a fuss to lower his own internet profile.

But there's no need to insult the man's website design, is there? That's kind of a low blow, dontcha think?

meow85 said:

It is difficult to understand your view, you seem to miss the point which is that Prince has a right to "own" his property and protect it from the "Pirates" like You Tube and other sites; which undoubtedly secure advertising $$ revenue off of their sites, but most likely don't share their $$ with Prince or any other artist. This my dear is called leaching.

It seems to me that Prince is simply trying to cut-out the middle man (or at the very least, get the respect due him). This has nothing to do with fans. The fans are unfortunately caught in the cross-hairs. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Simply put, would you like a stranger to come into your house and set up their stuff in your bedroom and act as though you're not there--invite friends over, have parties, leave dirty dishes all around, etc.--I highly doubt it.

I understand protecting your "product" - but for those of us that have been so devoted for so long, do deserve a little better. And that was a great point about YouTube, he absolutely is isolating himself from a new generation of listeners.

I think that the Internet is getting a bad rap. The same reason why artists performed on Solid Gold in the 80s and American Idol now - or do interviews on TV or in magazines is to promote themselves. Pushing around some videos on YouTube I would think is more of a vehicle for promotion not robbery. Inevitably, someone checks out your stuff for free, likes it and then begins making purchases to satisfy their new found need/desire. It's Marketing 101.

I don't think Prince understands the Internet...I don't think many 50 year olds do.

VickiWaiting said:[quote]I understand protecting your "product" - but for those of us that have been so devoted for so long, do deserve a little better. And that was a great point about YouTube, he absolutely is isolating himself from a new generation of listeners.

I think that the Internet is getting a bad rap. The same reason why artists performed on Solid Gold in the 80s and American Idol now - or do interviews on TV or in magazines is to promote themselves. Pushing around some videos on YouTube I would think is more of a vehicle for promotion not robbery. Inevitably, someone checks out your stuff for free, likes it and then begins making purchases to satisfy their new found need/desire. It's Marketing 101.

I don't think Prince understands the Internet...I don't think many 50 year olds do.[/quote]

Whoa...just went a little bit too far there, Vicki...

No seriously - not to be insulting. That generation - as much as they want to understand the Internet, it is a phenomenon that exploded after they were kids, teenagers and young adults.

I'm 30 and the Internet barely existed when I was in Jr. High.

Now in college - there are courses that teach students how to market products properly on the Internet, it's a huge difference to people that are even 10 years apart in age.

Prince tried to do his little Internet thing, what 10 years ago? He just simply didn't get it. Sorry.

VickiWaiting said:

Really, I'm confused as to how readily Prince embraces technology (which is odd to me considering how he has used it to make music). As you said, he does have his Internet thing going on, but it seems to me ( and I think you agree) that the marketing just isn't up to par. He probably isn't hiring people who are seriously knowledgable about Internet marketing. The analogy I'll use is wedding photography: folks will spend thousands of dollars on a wedding and then not want to hire a photographer because of the expense and because "my cousin has a great camera...he can do it." Well, guess what? Cousin doesn't know the first thing about light, design, depth of field, etc. Yes, he knows "something" about photography...if you press this button you will get some kind of picture. Prince's seem to know "something" about the Internet. There was a comment earlier regarding his site and the use of flash not being the best choice. I don't know about that in particular, but to me his site looks very amatuer.

Lastly, I remember him commenting in an interview that he doesn't own an iPod...like it was a badge of honor or something...ok...I'm 46...my daughter convinced my husband that he had to get me one for Christmas...it sat on my desk for 4 months whille I kept lugging my CD case back and forth to work...in and out of the car...I just kept resisting...finally, just because I didn't want to be wasteful I figured out how to use it...woohoo...Prince, really, get an iPod...they come in all colors-including purple...

Oh Lord, another "goodbye" letter. You will not be missed.

dreamfactory313 said:

It feels like that Prince is isolating himself from the rest of the world and in say 50 yrs people wont have heard any of the music that made us fans. In the foot note of music history under Prince it will say changed his name to a symbol.no must to review because he banned it all, shame. Whilst under stars like Elvis their footnote will run into pages.

I agrre 100% with you.....BUT

From the begining I, and i thought most Prince fans took for granted that prince was not right in the head, and that was cool thoe.

He has awed me many times, amazed me countless times!
But... also had me shaking my head in disbelief or had me thinking WTF just as many times.

That has been the routine for me from day one anyway.

Never did i think he was like my other musicians i also love,....the down to earth coolness of say Bruce Springsteen, which i admire not just for his great music, but the way he caries himself. I dont begrudge prince for not being like him, hes cool in own unique way.

.
[Edited 9/6/07 3:50am]

I don't like the whole video situation, but I won't say "good-bye" because of it...I just like the music too much...I did kind of boycott him though during the whole Crystal Ball fiasco...it was just too much of a hassle...people not getting their stuff...waiting forever...blah, blah, blah...not too mention all the cryptic ways that information was coming out...but in the end, albeit years later, guess what I bought...lol...everything I didn't buy before...so no need for me to attempt a boycott or a departure...I know I can't cut it...I'm addicted...

syrinx7 said:[quote]

VickiWaiting said:

I'll say! Sure, Prince hasn't maintained a website as well as he should. It seems when he has major changes in his life, some things get shut down. (I looked at his license info, NPG, Paisley Park, etc. that's public knowledge, and dates)

He doesn't want anyone to profit or take advantage of his talent as an artist. Thus this site's posted rules.
On the other hand, he won't provide desired videos himself, when he could. It's a dilemma.
My hubby is a businessman and 66. He knows as much as our college age kids about the internet, to know everything THEY'RE doing there.....
Prince will be around for awhile, and will hopefully make available to fans his stuff. "You Tube" isn't profit driven?
http://www.google.com/int...utube.html
[Edited 9/6/07 5:50am]

syrinx7 said:

Why endorse Apple without a fee? You don't see pro-basketball players dropping the name of Nike just for the heck of it. It's not that Prince doesn't have an ipod, he's just not doing free advertising.

Honestly, as a result of this site, as I've stated, I've made many purchases of Prince products I wouldn't have, otherwise. I don't like the idea of his causing problems for something to his advantage. Prince.org adheres to his and his attorney's expectations. As much as a pain in the ass it is.
[Edited 9/6/07 5:59am]