It's official: Billboard article on Sony/Columbia releasing Musicology April 20th-Updated

http://www.billboard.com/bb/biz/index.jsp

Sony To Release New Prince Album
March 23, 2004
Prince has signed a P&D deal with Sony Music Entertainment, which will issue his "Musicology" album on April 20, sources say. The album, which will likely carry an $18.98 list price, should prove an interesting sell at stores, since the artist is also giving away the album for free as part of the ticket price for fans who attend his concerts.


P.S. i got this from billboard, but as I was bout to post it to housequake, it was already posted there.


Updated: http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000469910


Prince Inks With Columbia, Expands Tour

Columbia Records has completed a deal to release "Musicology," the new album from Prince, Billboard.com has learned. The deal brings Prince back into the major label fold for the first time since his 1999 album "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic," released by Arista. In 2001, he pacted with Sony's Red Distribution for the album "The Rainbow Children." Sources say the new deal offers Columbia the possibility to work with Prince on future releases.

Meanwhile, Prince's Musicology tour has grown to include a July 12-14 stand at New York's Madison Square Garden, a return trip to Los Angeles' Staples Center and a June 16-17 engagement at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., near the artist's Minneapolis homebase. Tickets for nearly every show are on sale via Ticketmaster.

As previously reported, the trek will be presented in the round and will find Prince performing full versions of some of his classic hits for what he claims is the final time.

Prince's March 29 concert at Los Angeles' Staples Center will be broadcast live to select U.S. Regal Entertainment Group movie theaters in 43 cities. The $15 ticket price includes a copy of "Musicology."
[This message was edited Tue Mar 23 15:42:48 2004 by jseven]

P&D = Piss-on & Destroy?



Isnt the free CD at the concerts just the single? Cant see him giving away the album, he needs the $$$ for Mani's new hat!
[This message was edited Tue Mar 23 13:42:20 2004 by jagshrapnel]

p & d= press & distribute
[This message was edited Tue Mar 23 13:59:15 2004 by jseven]

jagshrapnel said:

P&D = Piss-on & Destroy?



Isnt the free CD at the concerts just the single? Cant see him giving away the album, he needs the $$$ for Mani's new hat!
[This message was edited Tue Mar 23 13:42:20 2004 by jagshrapnel]

The cd given away at the concerts and simulcast movie theater shows is the whole album. That's why the simulcast shows are $15.00 instead of the usual $8.50 movie price. The cost of the cd is included in there. Probably included in the concerts ticket price as well, as was discussed earlier when all this came about. Everybody involved is gonna make their money. Sony definitely would not have put their $$ in if they saw no potential for profit. Contrary to what some folks may think here, I believe that Prince has put a lot of thought into 2004, and he's probably gonna have a frickin' party (cha-CHING!)with his accountant (cha-CHING!) after all is said and done .

OdysseyMiles said:

I read on www.velvetrope.com that Sony also takes over the catalogue from WB and will remaster the lot, but personally i don't blieve that for a second. Anyone?

i just talked to a buddy at columbia and they said that everyone is psyched about the new single.. and contrary to what i have read in some corners the warner bros. catalog did not come with him.

yeah it has 2 b the ful album. He didnt need Sony 2 release them via the NPG, it doesnt need a barcode on it. I dunno.

Hope Sony do/did get the back catalog - theyre fast-ish at getting stuff remastered onto SACD, altho WB did a stellar job with Fleetwood Mac's Rumours 24/96 remaster.

So George Michael leaves Sony and goes to the Internet and Prince leaves Internet and goes to Sony, who saw that coming?

By all accounts, this isn't a record deal in the regular sense. This is an Emancipation/Rave type distribution/promtion deal.

Presumably based on this release only?

Title track to be released to radio on Monday.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-03-23-prince-album_x.htm

Now the question is:
What kind of bonus material will be included on the Sony release?

He can't just give away tens of thousands of albums. There has to be something that will make the Sony release special. Ya know, something that will make us want to buy it again.

http://www.mdexrecordings.com
http://www.soundclick.com...ndID=96013

http://www.myspace.com/djmarcdeon

U get a Jehova pamphlet with the CD

SpcMs said:

Okay, Excellent - Anyone know what kind of style this cd will be?

facedown7 said:

Okay, Excellent - Anyone know what kind of style this cd will be?

Someone 2 xplain the meanin' of "P & D" deal, please?????

packaging and distribution

facedown7 said:

Okay, Excellent - Anyone know what kind of style this cd will be?

The "first" single....hmmmm

I am impressed that there have been no leaks as to what is on this CD, aside from the title track of course. Will we be pleasantly surprised, or expectedly disappointed? (this is a tough crowd U know)

Just hope it's funky funky funky -

no more jazz or piano solo stuff -

it's time to get back to the FUNK!

Yeah , its too tough.

I am impressed with Prince and the ability to walk off the street and release an album.Clearly the folks see some potential in the album and hopefully do it "right".

However ! Prince can release the next Purple Rain, SOTT, 1999 and people here will cry,bitch,and moan because ...."it wasn't like_____!"


Peace to Prince !

Oh yeah, some people keep wanting Purple Rain and 1999 over and over again. And it just isn't going to happen

I think this is great news!

YES it is excellent news - long over due

marcdeondotcom said:

jagshrapnel said:

U get a Jehova pamphlet with the CD

marcdeondotcom said:

Now the question is:
What kind of bonus material will be included on the Sony release?

He can't just give away tens of thousands of albums. There has to be something that will make the Sony release special. Ya know, something that will make us want to buy it again.

and the beat goes on...

I'm gettin a copy of Musicology on Monday & I can't wait 2 buy the Sony copy

PurpleJedi said:

muleFunk said:

Blue

PUBLISHING and distribution.

Stax said:

From Reuters: Former corporate 'slave' Prince signs with Sony

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=4639886

Reuters, 03.23.04, 8:51 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Prince, who used to complain that he was a "slave" to one former record label, has signed with Sony Corp.'s Columbia Records unit after several years as an independent artist, both parties said Tuesday.

The worldwide deal initially covers only the funk veteran's upcoming album, "Musicology," which Columbia will release in the United States April 20. The album coincides with Prince's first tour in six years, which begins March 27 in Reno, Nevada.

"I look forward to working closely with Prince as we bring Musicology to audiences across the country and throughout the world," said Don Ienner, president of Sony Music U.S.

Somewhat cryptically, Prince, 45, added in the statement: "I am really an artist and musician at heart, that's what I do. Musicology has no boundaries or formats. It is long overdue to return to the art and craft of music -- that's what this album is about. School's in session."

Prince enjoyed his greatest success with Warner Bros. Records, which signed him as a fledgling artist in 1977 and released such big sellers as "Dirty Mind" (1980), "Purple Rain" (1984) and "Sign O' The Times" (1987). At one stage, he renegotiated a lucrative contract that also made him a vice-president at the label.

But the relationship soured in the early 1990s, with Prince claiming that Warner Bros. could not keep up with his prolific output. To drive the point home, he performed with the word "Slave" scrawled across his face.

He embarked on the indie road in 1996 with a 3-CD release, "Emancipation," which he quickly followed up with more increasingly idiosyncratic albums. He returned to the major leagues for one of them, 1999's "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic," which was handled by Bertelsmann AG's Arista Records unit.

Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
[This message was edited Wed Mar 24 1:42:23 2004 by July]

It's basically just a one album deal. Distribution.

Here's more!

Prince's New CD to Be in Stores, Not Net
Tue Mar 23, 7:59 PM ET Add Entertainment - AP to My Yahoo!


By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

NEW YORK - Prince, who has released most of his music over the Internet since 1996, has struck a deal with Sony Music to put out his new album.






"Musicology" will be released by Sony's Columbia Records on April 20, according to Prince's NPG Records and Sony. The deal calls for Sony to manufacture and distribute the disc. The first single, the title track, will be released to radio on Monday.


The partnership is the latest effort by Prince to raise his profile after years of seclusion and declining popularity. In February, he kicked off the Grammys (news - web sites) by performing with Beyonce to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking film and album "Purple Rain."


Soon afterward, he announced his first arena tour in years, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week.


"I am really an artist and musician at heart, that's what I do," the 45-year-old Prince said Tuesday. "`Musicology' has no boundaries or formats. It is long overdue to return to the art and craft of music — that's what this album is about. School's in session."


He has mainly eschewed major labels since his bitter 1996 split with Warner Bros. Records. When the relationship soured, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol and wrote the word "slave" on his cheek.


Prince released an album on his own NPG Records through a distribution deal with EMI that same year, and in 1999, signed with Arista Records for a one-album deal that resulted in "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic."


But he has primarily made his music available on his Web site through his NPG Records.


Earlier this month, he announced that fans who bought a ticket to his upcoming concerts would get the album as a bonus. The tour kicks off March 29 in Los Angeles and he will revisit some of his biggest hits, including "Little Red Corvette," "Let's Go Crazy" and "Kiss."

So what cities are these simulcasts being broadcast in?

what about a CD (musicology) & DVD (musicology tour opener concert) combo release from Sony (or maybe we could order via npgmc -i don't care!) ..... that way...all that saw the concert in theatres in the states can 'buy a special 'bonus edition' to go with their free copy, (ie Prince gets paid twice!)...and all us ppl stuck outside the US...can get 2 see the concert....that way no-one loses and prince makes more $$$....what do u all think? doubt it'll happen...but if Bowie can do it and a lot of other bands r doing that now....y not prince?
at very least i'd like 2 b able 2 buy a dvd of the 'satelite' show....i kinda feel left out way down here in NZ

guitarslinger44 said:

daPrettyman said:

The chances are that the Sony version will be fuller or have added bonus disc. Record companies compete even within themselves due to different release dates and tracklisiting. If the US release something 6 weeks prior to Europe then the European release will often have more tracks or a second disc with DVD / remixes. (to get those that bought on import to re-buy their version)

This would be i viable way for Sony to make this profitable for them, while letting Prince give away his 'weaker' package at the gigs.....

NME said:

Romance1600 said:

July said:

Stax said:

PUBLISHING and distribution.

Exactly.

Abrazo said:

July said:

Exactly.

Nah, packaging/ manufacturing and distribution of the disc, no publishing.

I think it is a good deal for Prince. I think he knows what he is doing.
I don't think he will give away too much control. It's a smooth deal.

I think it's a great deal for...Sony. I mean, they're surely gon make money out of this deal. They aint got to give no budget to the artist to create the album or nothing, all them gotta do is put the album out. And receive the money. And they know for sure that this album is gonna go at least Gold. Gold if there aint no hit in it, Platinum if any single makes an impact.


BTW, that release date (April 20th) is only for the US??? When will we europeans get the album?

DaIllest said:

Tiens, tiens...

If the cd is gonna have a $18.98 price, and people going to see the live show at the movie theatres are only paying $15 AND get a free album... Well, that's like giving them £3.98 for just turning up!!! Good deal!!!

Whereas it is gonna cost us a fortune to see Prince in concert, if the price of the album given away 'for free' is in reality used to hike up the price. What if I see Prince a few times on the tour and I get the album several times? I'm paying for it over and over and will end up with a few spare copies - at least everybody will know what they're getting for Christmas!

It seems we can't come to a conclusion what 'P' in P&D deal is. Promotion? Publishing? Packaging? I'd prefer 'Promotion' because albums can fail if no one bothers to go out there and tell anyone!

I don't see this deal with Sony as a hypocritical thing from Prince - sounds like THEY have signed to HIM rather than the other way around, since he gets what he needs and they get nothing like the normal deal. I bet they are doing this at a loss in the hope of securing a proper deal with him in the future - Prince is playing them!

Bull said:

It even made news in the UK!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3563691.stm

I can't wait to hear him on the Radio now, and I predict Sony/Columbia will do a grand job on this album - I'm thinking that Prince may get a period of mainstreamness that actually works for a while.

facedown7 said:

facedown7 said:

alexnvrmnd said:

herb4 said:

July said:

Stax said:

PUBLISHING and distribution.

Exactly.

Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

Keep in mind, if Prince and Sony plan to do a full out promotional campaign for this disc, then much of the average public would buy it in the stores, completely unaware of the giveaway promotion. Also, fans who would have to wait for him to come to their town months down the line won't wait for the concert, they'll buy it in the stores. I seriously doubt that the giveaway at concerts and movie theaters is going to negatively imapct sales all that much.

Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

facedown7 said:

This is the first Prince album ever where the songs couldn't be found on bootleg a year before hand. About time.

Wave your wildsigns high!!

JediMaster said:

July said:

Exactly.

Nope. Prince has a long term publishing deal with Universal Music Group. P&D stands for Packaging & Distribution (that's the industry standard term for this).

July said:

DaIllest said:

I think it's a great deal for...Sony. I mean, they're surely gon make money out of this deal. They aint got to give no budget to the artist to create the album or nothing, all them gotta do is put the album out. And receive the money. And they know for sure that this album is gonna go at least Gold. Gold if there aint no hit in it, Platinum if any single makes an impact.


BTW, that release date (April 20th) is only for the US??? When will we europeans get the album?

That's the trade off. They don't get into the creative part.

Prince is paying them to get it out to the customers.
They are the albums hot plate servers.
They carry it to the table and set it down.
That is what they do. Prince is the Chef.

metalorange said:

Sorry it's in Dutch (www.sonymusic.nl)

Prince brengt nieuwe album Musicology bij Sony Music uit

NPG (New Power Generation) Records en Sony Music Entertainment zijn een samenwerking aangegaan die inhoudt dat Prince zijn nieuwe album Musicology wereldwijd via Columbia Records uitbrengt. Het langverwachte nieuwe album van Prince verschijnt 20 april. De eerste single Musicology gaat op 29 maart in première op radio. "I am really an artist and musician at heart, that’s what I do. Musicology has no boundaries or formats. It is long overdue to return to the art and craft of music – that’s what this album is about. School's in session," aldus Prince in een reactie.

Prince opende begin 2004 samen met Beyoncé op spectaculaire wijze de 46ste Grammy Awards en werd opgenomen in de Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Binnenkort start de Musicology Tour die hem ongetwijfeld ook naar Nederland zal brengen. Prince wordt door fans en liefhebbers gezien als iemand die een ongelooflijke invloed heeft gehad op de hedendaagse popscène. Hij is een van de grootste talenten uit de muziekgeschiedenis en leverde in de jaren ’80 baanbrekende albums af. Als multi-instrumentalist, producer, zanger en componist verkocht Prince wereldwijd meer dan 100 miljoen platen en won naast een Oscar diverse Grammy Awards. Hij is niet bang om artistieke uitdagingen aan te gaan en experimenteert constant met geluiden en genres en weet zijn publiek zo elke keer weer te verbazen.

a little info on p & d deals:

(care of google)

Manufacture and Distribution Record Agreement
- "P & D Deal"-"P & D" = pressing and distribution-

Artist records masters at own expense
-COPYRIGHT Owned by Artist
-Total Artistic Control
THEN delivers masters to the disribution/record company
-Record Company manufactures and fulfills orders from dealers
-but manufacturing costs paid by Artist
-Artist is responsible for promoting the records
-Distribution/Record Company collects monies and is paid aroyalty (which it deducts from collected monies) and the Artistis entitled to the balance
-Artist gets the biggest possible share of the income from thistype of deal BUT the Artist must also pay all associated costs ofproducing and promoting the Masters and the Records(including mechanical royalties, performer fees/royalties, recordcover/artwork/packaging

i think that clear it up

How, i'm gonna make that booty boom...step back, give a girl some room....OH

jagshrapnel said:

Hope Sony do/did get the back catalog - theyre fast-ish at getting stuff remastered onto SACD, altho WB did a stellar job with Fleetwood Mac's Rumours 24/96 remaster.

So George Michael leaves Sony and goes to the Internet and Prince leaves Internet and goes to Sony, who saw that coming?

My guess is that this will happen:

1) CD given away at concerts will be the Musicology album (all new material)

2) CD available at record stores will be a double CD - CD1 being the same Musicology CD as given away at the concerts plus a bonus disc of jazzy/revamped versions of classic songs like 'Kiss' and 'The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'

So Prince is in charge of the promotion? Oh my. Then it'll be difficult to sell.

phunkymunky said:

GustavoRibas said:

phunkymunky said:

My guess is that this will happen:

1) CD given away at concerts will be the Musicology album (all new material)

2) CD available at record stores will be a double CD - CD1 being the same Musicology CD as given away at the concerts plus a bonus disc of jazzy/revamped versions of classic songs like 'Kiss' and 'The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'

- It would be very interesting