Tremolina said:

^ worldwide it's only Sony to go for now, unless he is willing to go for it with WB or not work with a major player anymore

The idea occurred to me that he might return his publishing to Warner as part of a package deal that involves reissues from his back catalog along with a new album. Knowing Prince, that doesn't seem likely. But it is interesting that the announcement came from his manager.

electricberet said:

Tremolina said:

^ worldwide it's only Sony to go for now, unless he is willing to go for it with WB or not work with a major player anymore

The idea occurred to me that he might return his publishing to Warner as part of a package deal that involves reissues from his back catalog along with a new album. Knowing Prince, that doesn't seem likely. But it is interesting that the announcement came from his manager.

But who knows. I would put my money on Sony tho'.

Paisleyprk said:

Bring back the NPGMC!! That way, he can put up what he wants and we will buy it!!

What a wish!

Genesia said:

KeithyT said:

Rebecca where are you getting this? The announcement from his manager makes no mention of things turning sour or UMPG keeping him from what he wants to do, or holding him back.

As Gav has reported it's just a simple 2 liner.

To all the other's fretting about the free agent stuff that is jseven's interspersed wording (and no disrespect to him, he was privileged enough to be able to ask Prince direct.), relating to Prince's record deal status.

It could be nothing. But when I read, "It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music," it seems Prince is suggesting that UPMG was, in some way, keeping him from considering fresh and new ideas for all his music.

Surely, if all they were doing was collecting royalties, that wouldn't have stopped him from doing exactly what he wanted under the terms of the deal - fresh or otherwise.

Or maybe it's a generic statement that is worded in such a way as to make it seem a bigger deal than it is. That wouldn't be out of character for the man, either.

[Edited 7/9/12 8:37am]

language matters and I totally agree with you. Prince's statement are calculated and does paint him as the victim which is the only way his ego can comprehend life.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Genesia said:

It could be nothing. But when I read, "It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music," it seems Prince is suggesting that UPMG was, in some way, keeping him from considering fresh and new ideas for all his music.

Surely, if all they were doing was collecting royalties, that wouldn't have stopped him from doing exactly what he wanted under the terms of the deal - fresh or otherwise.

Or maybe it's a generic statement that is worded in such a way as to make it seem a bigger deal than it is. That wouldn't be out of character for the man, either.

[Edited 7/9/12 8:37am]

language matters and I totally agree with you. Prince's statement are calculated and does paint him as the victim which is the only way his ego can comprehend life.

I tend to agree, but he has never been shy in the past about saying it a lot more bluntly.

NDRU said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

language matters and I totally agree with you. Prince's statement are calculated and does paint him as the victim which is the only way his ego can comprehend life.

I tend to agree, but he has never been shy in the past about saying it a lot more bluntly.

True, however the only thing stopping Prince in most ways is Prince.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

NDRU said:

I tend to agree, but he has never been shy in the past about saying it a lot more bluntly.

True, however the only thing stopping Prince in most ways is Prince.

No argument there!

2012 - one the most boring years EVER to be a Prince fan

he should take a leaf out the KLF's book and delete his entire back catalogue, withdraw all his cash out the bank and burn it on a scottish island and make a video of it for no-one to see

naffi said:

So Prince can set up his own version of iTunes/Spotify/Mogg to sell existing music and for any new releases of his own or other artists?? Does that mean Prince no longer has the rights to the Welcome to concerts, if he ever wanted to release a live album from the concerts???

I'd like to believe he would one day release a professionally presented DVD/ Bluray of the Welcome 2 series. Like most of us, I've thought for years the Musicology tour was best suited for commercial release way back then....but here we are folks...the frustration we all dreamed of!

[Edited 7/9/12 14:11pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Genesia said:

It could be nothing. But when I read, "It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music," it seems Prince is suggesting that UPMG was, in some way, keeping him from considering fresh and new ideas for all his music.

Surely, if all they were doing was collecting royalties, that wouldn't have stopped him from doing exactly what he wanted under the terms of the deal - fresh or otherwise.

Or maybe it's a generic statement that is worded in such a way as to make it seem a bigger deal than it is. That wouldn't be out of character for the man, either.

language matters and I totally agree with you. Prince's statement are calculated and does paint him as the victim which is the only way his ego can comprehend life.

<-- runs to check the temperature in hell

It makes more sense for him to work with one player instead of 2-3 anyway (financially). If he's completely bypassing the traditional Record Industry players though then he's no longer even going for traditional radio play anymore, because they still control that. The good thing is there are enough new potential players at the distribution end that he has a few options.

So until now Prine had no fresh and new ideas for all his music? That explains a lot. Looking forward to some good music now....or am I reading that wrong??

Zannaloaf said:

So until now Prine had no fresh and new ideas for all his music? That explains a lot. Looking forward to some good music now....or am I reading that wrong??

Tremolina said:

or not work with a major player anymore

This. I wouldn't be surprised if he went with someone like Kobalt.

daPrettyman said:

Does anyone think he will try to go back to WB (for music publishing)?

How many other companies are out there that you know of? I know Sony exists (other than Universal and WB). Are there any more big ones that you guys can think of?

Yes! BMI Publishing is a very popular publishing company that a lot of artist use. He may go with them. The part that the deal was done & finish weeks ago. Proves that Prince is up to something big. I think its all tied in to his masters. In a year and a half he will have ownership of the big "Purple Rain" masters. He is getting his house in order now..

No matter what people say about him here. which i don't really care. Prince is a brilliant business man & has made major strides in owning & controlling his brand. I can't wait to hear what Princey's next move is..Hopefully it will include his very own music channel & slay Magic & Diddy's new channels out the way..He should take notes what Lionel did & sell his product on a HSN network. Lionell was very successful at that. Plus 80's artist are back in now..People want to hear real music by real musicians again.....

[Edited 7/9/12 16:05pm]

Genesia said:

ludwig said:

Let's be honest and acknowledge that no one here knows the insights, if someone did something wrong, etc... It's all speculation.

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say.

Prince always makes this big deal when his deals end, talking about his wonderful new "freedom," and how it opens all these amazing new horizons for his music. He makes it sound like it's always the other side holding him back.

And yet, nothing ever changes. He operates the way he always has: there are no re-masters and the vault stays closed.

Smartest thing I have read on here for ages. Prince loves playing the victim and I am sick of his complaining. It's Warners, the record industry, the internet, mtv, ticketmaster, the gate keepers etc. Always someone else holding him back in his mind. He has been 'emancipated' for years yet the quality of his work and his relationship with his fans is worse than it ever was. Npg website and club is closed, he tried to take off youtube clips, no promotion on new music, barely any videos, no downloads, no singles, no remasters, no live dvd's, promotion of his girlfriends who can't sing, snippets of video which end up in the vault and nothing for the real fans. Thank god for bootlegs and his live shows.

I DON'T CARE about Prince leaving Universal.

I was excited in 1993-94-95 when The Artist Formerly Known As Prince was fighting Warner Bros.

Then came Emancipation, Newpower Soul etc. and I was hugely disappointed.

Prince and "his freedom", sucks big time....

.

[Edited 7/9/12 16:36pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

daPrettyman said:

Does anyone think he will try to go back to WB (for music publishing)?

How many other companies are out there that you know of? I know Sony exists (other than Universal and WB). Are there any more big ones that you guys can think of?

Yes! BMI Publishing is a very popular publishing company that a lot of artist use. He may go with them. The part that the deal was done & finish weeks ago. Proves that Prince is up to something big. I think its all tied in to his masters. In a year and a half he will have ownership of the big "Purple Rain" masters. He is getting his house in order now..

That's interesting guessing. But fishing for the best deal out there makes sense, especially if he were to release remasters of Purple Rain back to the For You album.

[Edited 7/9/12 16:53pm]

love2thenines2003 said:

banishedones666 said:

PRINCE Is A Free Agent As He & Universal End Publishing Deal

http://www.drfunkenberry....hing-deal/

PRINCE is also not signed to any record labels as well and considers himself a free agent when Drfunkenberry spoke to him about this late last month.

Sharma added "this is a great opportunity for PRINCE to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music."

PRINCE expressed interest in trying new mediums to release music and relished in being totally a free agent.

What frustration who do you think has a hand in those YOUTUBE pull downs.

Genesia said:

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

I do not recall any statement that he was forced to enter a deal with UMPG. Somebody has to collect the royalties. Like any business arrangement it came to an end. I am sure he will find another company to handle things perhaps even work out a better deal for himself.

I think you are the one putting a negative spin on it.

lezama said:

It makes more sense for him to work with one player instead of 2-3 anyway (financially). If he's completely bypassing the traditional Record Industry players though then he's no longer even going for traditional radio play anymore, because they still control that. The good thing is there are enough new potential players at the distribution end that he has a few options.

The question is distribute what? Cuz in a year or two you won't find cds at bestbuy.

Actually, new game all together. Publishing is where the $$$ is at. one can make $$ in so many different ways. So many other streams of income away from the dying old way of selling cds. The cd will be phased out in a year or two from most stores. People will buy limited run cd/dvd from the amazon dot coms. So no need for a record co dinosaur deal to distribute a product to a store that doesn't exist anymore. Money to be made from streaming music online, youtube, digital downloads, tv/movie, commercials, etc. Money to be made from publishing and technology. I'm actually excited to see what Prince does next.

I know a lawyer who worked for Prince via Universal and he said that he was such a pain the ass (you tube lawsuits etc) that if he was driving and a Prince song came on he immediately changed the station. Before working with Prince he was a huge fan.

2020 said:

Interesting.

Am I the only one who thought this meant Prince would allow his material on YouTube? LOL

It wasn't until I did my research and thought about it in detail, just to realize that Prince is doing what he did originally.

ALL I hope is that we will see a new album this year! That this distribution is very accomplished and that Prince finds success!!

I sure hope that Prince finds new territories in that they will expand in time. THAT HE USES the internet to release his material. I sure hope he uses it for his advantage and others. It would make no sense for him to use whatever medium to his disadvantage. I think he could go good on this one, in fact that's my expectation. I think when he owns all his masters, he'll be fully satisfied! lol

Much love and respect to him; let's hope this will be a good deal!

Genesia said:

KeithyT said:

Rebecca where are you getting this? The announcement from his manager makes no mention of things turning sour or UMPG keeping him from what he wants to do, or holding him back.

As Gav has reported it's just a simple 2 liner.

To all the other's fretting about the free agent stuff that is jseven's interspersed wording (and no disrespect to him, he was privileged enough to be able to ask Prince direct.), relating to Prince's record deal status.

It could be nothing. But when I read, "It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music," it seems Prince is suggesting that UPMG was, in some way, keeping him from considering fresh and new ideas for all his music.

Surely, if all they were doing was collecting royalties, that wouldn't have stopped him from doing exactly what he wanted under the terms of the deal - fresh or otherwise.

Or maybe it's a generic statement that is worded in such a way as to make it seem a bigger deal than it is. That wouldn't be out of character for the man, either.

[Edited 7/9/12 8:37am]

That's exactly what I thought when I read that part also.

I wonder if his dealings with Universal was a real reason why he didn't release any music in two years... I can't imagine this has taken a toll on him but this was probably also on his accord too because he was always looking for big monetary deals. Guess there's wonder as to what's in the future.

GustavoRibas said:

"It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music."

- I didnt understand it too. Prince seemed free to do what he wanted to, lately. Cds with newspapers, Target promotion, etc...

And he is still releasing less amount of music/DVDs than in Warner days...

His latest fresh and new idea is being kept hush hush for the moment. He's planning to include his new album in "The Watchtower" magazine. The only way to get it, is to not slam the door in the Jehovah Witnesses' faces when they knock. It's Prince's way of fulfilling his door to door obligations without actually having to go through the act.

This could be really good 4 Prince. If signs right kind of deal, commercially more attractive. Perhaps single success, after so long.

Sam 8)