It frustrated me to bits that Prince's stuff wasnt on YT. I get where he was coming from, but he was irrational about it. I know some people like to get their music for free but I also know lots of folks like me who legally paid for the music we own. I prefer vinyl and cd's and taking my time to study the artwork and/or photos, liner notes, lyrics, even the thank u's! I could never see the harm in leaving the videos up of his performances at various awards programs that aired on tv for instance. It was some consolation for his fans that couldn't afford or otherwise see his live shows. As a performer he was spectacular - truly in a class by himself - he could make new fans on his performances alone, the music being a bonus! I wanted to share him w/my own kids and always felt it was such a shame he denied himself the opportunity to add new fans. Not to mention denying future generations the amazing life and music of Prince, further ensuring his legacy. Someone like him doesn't come along even once in a lifetime. I'm so thankful I lived it. Hopefully they won't take all his memorable stuff down.

I think one of the reasons younger generations don't know Prince is because he was not on YT. That's all they watch. Prince watched YT as well.

-

But now, all these videos are being devoured by artists and fans alike. And all these half-assed artists are watching his genius from early 80s and thinking how much they actually lack creativity. Prince was more confident and visionary than any of these people around today. He created art. He didn't have people create it for him. And even when they contributed he put his spin on it. No puppetry there.

-

I get what he meant as well. But it has deprived us fans and potential new fans of experiencing his magic.

-

Who the hell taking them down now is a mystery. Maybe its him

[Edited 5/19/16 1:18am]

It's strange to me that you cannot find full video of the Piano Microphone tour online. I recently saw audio removed.

I wonder if the estate managers are policing this tour diligently for an eventual release?

suomynona said:

I agree Marrk, but since he didn't leave a will -- I imagine that at least for the time being -- they're going to respect how he publicly felt about things. And it's publicly well known in the Prince community that he wanted nothing on youtube unless he was in control of it. That's why I wouldn't be surprised to see everything 4/21 and newer to be taken down at some point.

The family or whoever ends up in charge of the estate may change their policy later on, but I doubt it. They'll go one of two routes. Make as much money as they can by making as much available as possible. Or release nothing, agree to nothing, because that's what Prince would've wanted. Sell Paisley Park, his many properties, and make money off of the current official releases. Hopefully it is the former. I'd like to hear as much as possible before I die.

They've got such a short time to make that possible. With Tronald Dump our next president -- we could all be dead in January and never know what was in the vault.

[Edited 5/18/16 11:42am]

I also agree.

I think that, had I been able to see Prince peformances on the net, I would have actually bought more of his albums -not less.

Firstly, I am clueless about "ripping". But I don't recall having heard his stuff much on the radio for years -not the newer stuff.

How else was I to hear it, unless there was the newer stuff along side some of the older stuff, which I loved and was familiar with and which would hook me in to try out more.

...What I mean is that thieves are always going to exist, but giving samples of your work -letting some videos stay up at least for a while- helps to hook people in.

Marrk said:

that's the point tho. we don't know his wishes after death. what do know, however, are his wishes before and those were to keep his music off the net illegally.

blue22 said:

I think one of the reasons younger generations don't know Prince is because he was not on YT. That's all they watch. Prince watched YT as well.

-

But now, all these videos are being devoured by artists and fans alike. And all these half-assed artists are watching his genius from early 80s and thinking how much they actually lack creativity. Prince was more confident and visionary than any of these people around today. He created art. He didn't have people create it for him. And even when they contributed he put his spin on it. No puppetry there.

-

I get what he meant as well. But it has deprived us fans and potential new fans of experiencing his magic.

-

Who the hell taking them down now is a mystery. Maybe its him

[Edited 5/19/16 1:18am]

I agree. Think he should have allowed more of his music to slip through (to) the net!

He could have seen it as free publicity -like radio stations playing his songs, or mtv playing them. ...back in the day, as a kid, we would have a tape and press record!!! -there's a bootleg without the internet.

Point is that being too guarded I think was a mistake.

Now that I've been hooked by having seen more videos, firstly of songs I already loved (but could never see on youtube) and then songs I hadn't heard before ...I have regret for not having delved more into his music.

For instance: "The Rainbow Children", especially "1 + 1 + 1 = 3" is excellent music. Never heard it until I found it on youtube.

sonshine said:

It frustrated me to bits that Prince's stuff wasnt on YT. I get where he was coming from, but he was irrational about it. I know some people like to get their music for free but I also know lots of folks like me who legally paid for the music we own. I prefer vinyl and cd's and taking my time to study the artwork and/or photos, liner notes, lyrics, even the thank u's! I could never see the harm in leaving the videos up of his performances at various awards programs that aired on tv for instance. It was some consolation for his fans that couldn't afford or otherwise see his live shows. As a performer he was spectacular - truly in a class by himself - he could make new fans on his performances alone, the music being a bonus! I wanted to share him w/my own kids and always felt it was such a shame he denied himself the opportunity to add new fans. Not to mention denying future generations the amazing life and music of Prince, further ensuring his legacy. Someone like him doesn't come along even once in a lifetime. I'm so thankful I lived it. Hopefully they won't take all his memorable stuff down.

Here! Here! Very well said.

One thing I hate the most is whole albums being uploaded onto the net. Fans take too many liberties with artists work and money out of their pockets when they do stuff like this.