Was Prince the 1st major musician/artist of the modern era to ditch the record label?

Madonna is done with WB. So many other major acts are going it solo.

Was Prince a visionary in this regard? So many seem to be following what he did over a decade ago...
[Edited 10/20/09 17:06pm]

Todd Rundgren was ahead of everyone along with Frank Zappa.

carlcranshaw said:

SPOOKYGAS said:

carlcranshaw said:

Todd Rundgren was ahead of everyone along with Frank Zappa.

So in other words..yes Prince was the first Major musician/artist!

I guess it all comes down to how you define a 'major artist'. In terms of 'superstar status', yeah I guess he was, but there were lots of other successful independent artists. Although Zappa wasn't a household name, he was still somewhat a minor celebrity who would appear on talk shows and what-not in the 1970s.

The Moody Blues ditched their record label in the late 60s and formed their own record label, Threshold Records!! They even became their own managers!!!! So, Prince was in no way the first visionary in that aspect!!!!!

So, Prince, theres nothing new under the sun!!!!!

skywalker said:

Peter Gabriel was before him. Prince hasn't ditched the record label/company really.... He just releases on his own label (whichmany,many artistsdo)and still relies on the big bad record companies to distribute.

George Michael went on strike after listen without prejudice, His dispute with Sony was before Princes if I remember rightly

Zappa was the only artist to have sued Warners and got his masters back.

Whether you think he dwells in the fringes of pop culture or not, his estate still manages to put out at least one new release a year (as Zappa has a vault which rivals the Paisley Park vault, but more likely the other way around) and his catalog still sells strongly and he has a rabid, active, and very dedicated fan base.

He is considered by most musicologists as a major American composer.

- BM
[Edited 10/21/09 1:31am]

BloodyMouth said:

bowie did it with the assistance of john lennon

or was that ditching a manager?

I'd love to see a list of major musician/artist of the medieval era to ditch the record label!
I think Christine de Pizan was quite an independent thinker. And didn't John Gower fall out with John of Gaunt, his patron?

Come to think of it, those of Roman times would be interesting too!

sorry for the nonsense