Yes Prince's music is the very best and yes we all love the guy but when he takes everything away from the true 'fan' and replaces it with a website that you can only get on with cash then there becomes a probelm.....Money over Funk!!!!!

Peace and Love.

DP

DAZ01204 said:

The website now is free, and you can listen to three new songs in their entirety.

He did already. When he had the club, fans got first dibs at the best seats at shows. There was a recent contest held in October for members of HQ/Org to win free tickets to a private benefit/aftershow concert where P was performing at the Gansevoort Hotel in NYC in October 2008. Later that day, a limited number of tickets for that show also became available for the public to purchase as well. Not sure if a password was needed to purchase, but I know there were several fans there, that paid for tickets to attend. There was a concert performance held earlier in the day along with an aftershow in the evening.

I was one of the winners on the Org, who won the contest for free admission tickets, to attend the "Aftershow" only, along with 2 other members of the Org and 3 from HQ (total of 6 combined.) I was grateful for getting free admission along with the opportunity to bring a guest, especially since I spent a lot of money attending quite a few shows during 2006 through 2007 period when he performed in Vegas, and the last one I attended before the Gansevoort Hotel show, was on 7/7/07 in Minneapolis. The aftershow that night was about 3 hours long if I'm not mistaken.

Just recently, and according to reports here on the Org in the PM&M forum, Prince apparently was kind enough to invite 3 fans to his home through a contest no one knew he was having, when members signed onto his new site, and as you can see from the reports they recently posted in PM&M how grateful those fans were to have the opportunity to be invited. Now how nice was that? How many artists do you know invite their fans to their home? At the present time, he is providing some songs on his current website for free and you can listen to them as many times without a charge, at least as long as he allows it.

So a membership fee for his website seems pretty fair. It could also help maintain the cost of running a website and all that it entails. Remember, there were many fans wishing that he opened a website after the last two were closed.


"1st/2nd/4th paragraphs edit"
[Edited 2/9/09 8:03am]

I agree. The fact that he is still making music is enough for me. I am looking forward to signing up with the new site, and he does'nt owe me anything, I just want to his amazing music and see him live.

2elijah said:

3121 Vegas aftershows where he practically invited anyone including a bunch of wierdos here and at housequake into his living room for 3 hour jam sessions

funk you greedy fan mutha funkers

Think about what you said! It's free right now, but even in the future when their is going to be a membership fee it's worth it. You get first looks at everything. That's what he gives us. Without anybody paying a fee Lotusflow3r wouldn't be up.

2elijah said:

You get access to the org for nothing. Not even annoying advertisments. And Ben hardly has the financial muscle Prince has.
He doesn't have to put a price on it, unless he wants to make money by accessing it alone.

The Question should be asked in reverse,
What have we given Prince?
When U have answer this to it's fullest, list the pros and cons.
U might find U are in debt.
The man has given me so much over the years,music,advice (some good and some bad)and all with a simple message, life is to be enjoyed.
So let's party like it is 2009.

O yeah! between songs played on radio,web-sites and downloads inthe past 12 months,I think we've done quiet well from an artist "who doesn't care 4 his fans"

2elijah said:[quote]He did already. When he had the club, fans got first dibs at the best seats at shows. There was a recent contest held in October for free tickets to members of HQ/Org who participated in a contest to win free tickets to P's Gansevoort Hotel in NYC in October 2008, where there was also a benefit performance held earlier in the day along with an aftershow. I was one of the winners who won free admission from the Org contest, to attend the Aftershow only, along with 2 other members of the Org and 3 from HQ (total of 6 combined.) I was grateful for that, especially being that I spent a lot of money attending quite a few shows during 2006 through 2007 period when he performed in Vegas, and the last one I attended before the Gansevoort Hotel show, was on 7/7/07 in Minneapolis. The aftershow that night was about 3 hours long if I'm not mistaken.

Just recently he was kind enough to invite 3 fans to his home as you can see from the reports they recently posted in PM&M.. How nice was that? How many artists do you know invite their fans to their home? At the present time, he is providing some songs on his current website for free and you can listen to them as many times without a charge, at least as long as he allows it.

So a membership fee for his website seems pretty fair. It could also help maintain the cost of running a website and all that it entails. Remember, there were many fans wishing that he opened a website after the last two were closed. You don't get something for nothing in this day and age.
[Edited 2/7/09 12:42pm]
[/eXaCtLy!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

CUZ HE CANT AFFORD IT.

Gimme gimme gimme. I want I want I want.

Prince's camp has sent out random freebies in the past. Cassettes, t-shirts, free mp3s on the previous incarnations of the official sites. I'm sure long time fans remember other occurences that were more signficant than those examples.

And yes, it's a cliche, but constantly writing, recording, and releasing music IS him giving something back. He might ultimately be making music for himself, but we still get our grubby mitts on it (and yes we do pay CD prices for it). He doesn't have to negotiate one off record, distribution, and manufacturing deals you know.

Seven nights in his crib for 250 bucks in 2002...

AND he rented out a theater for the fans to watch a movie in their pajamas...

Hush up now!

How can anyone moan about paying for a site, when we have no idea what will be on it, is beyond me. It could turn out to be cheap at half the price. Whatever that price might turn out to be. Has it even been confirmed that we'll have to pay for the site, or is it just an assumption at the moment?

The initial site had a price of $77 indicated on the sign up ticket, but it also had the date of 31st January. Was this $77 an indication of the sign up cost, or was it for a concert he intended on 31st Jan? Who knows? I don't.

All I know is that something is happening soon(ish) and we might have to pay for it. Whether or not I can moan about the cost, I don't know. I'll let you know when we have more details.

And as for Prince giving back, I had great seats at the UK One Nite Alone shows and got to see him perform in the sound checks. More recently we had a great run of shows here in London, for a pretty cheap price. Free copies of Planet Earth in a newspaper and with each concert ticket too. Then we've had the tracks that have recently been previewed on web sites organised by Prince. Not to mention, the other Lotus Flow3r tracks played on the radio. He's given me plenty in recent years I think.
[Edited 2/9/09 16:56pm]

He did give us access to the sound checks but those days are gone. Look at the history with the fans its all there

sirweasel said:

But there's still the recent tracks out out for nothing and the cheap shows in London a little over a year ago. Not to mention the recent event with a few fans at his house. I'm not a blind lover of everything he does, but he gives us enough.

TheEnglishGent said:

What's all this nosnense hypocritical collective talk of he give "us" enough with concerts alone?

You lot can't speak for others like that, that they are wining just because you got what you wanted.

Thousands of mebers NEVER had the chance to see him in concert, because he only performed in the US and UK, remember?

Oh yeah shit that's true. Those fans only got some self destructing computer files for a 25$ "lifetime membership". .

That you even defend such business practices and keep on paying for it says a whole lot about you.

But I see, who cares about fans that don't get what they expected. Just as long as YOU are happy right?

Tremolina said:

I don't remember defending his use of DRM? I don't see the need for it as it accomplishes nothing. I can get DRM free copies of all those tracks if necessary, so it really is pointless.

Where did I say that concerts alone were enough? Have you not got any value form the tracks that have been made available in the last year for free?

I don't remember defending any business practice. Until we know what the content is and how much it will cost, then we have no idea whether good value will be had. What if every video he's ever made could be accessed for $77. Would that be value? What if the entire vault is made available for $1000, would that be value? What if he made available everything he's ever done for $0, would that be good business?

All I said was, he's given stuff back. Obviously he can't give everything to every fan, that's impossible. Did I benefit from the recent event at his house, that 3 orgers attended? No. Was I envious? Hell yes, but it doesn't stop me from realising that he gave this opportunity, regardless of whether or not I benefited.

Honestly, the eternal cynics are as irritating as the blind fams.

TheEnglishGent said:

The agent (cynic) provocateurs are the most obsessed Prince fans of all.

Expectations crush them.

TheEnglishGent said:

Ehm, call me an "eternal cynic", I don't care, because that says more about you than about me.

I am not agreeing with the person that started this thread that Prince "never gives anyhting back". That's a load of whining nonsense too, but I agree even less with the fams who are only attacking others with their false 'facts' and condescending attitude.

I am also not even complaining about his website or whatever. I am merely countering some of the lies told here and mentioning the fact that he didn't give thousands of fans a good deal the last time, nor the time before, and that I therefore find the comments of the fams that somehow feel they have to "protect" him, kinda hypocritical and wrong.

Moreover, I haven't joined any of his projects in about 7 years, so you won't hear me complaining about it for myself. I am merely advocating the arguments of fans here that were offered a lot, but did not get it delivered.

In other words I am just being honest here, unlike the fammie fans who just love to criticise, whine and complain themselves, about other fans, not about his Purple Holiness of course. In fact they are the biggest whiners of us all.

Anyway, you think he has "given back a lot". I think that's a nonsense statement. Not that he hasn't given anything, but this is not a matter of "giving and taking". It's just business where he offers a product for sale, makes you promises and enters in a contract with you, which you PAY for, as much as possible please.

And in business people get screwed. While some get smart, some never do, some take a long time and others will remain blind idiots for the rest of their days.

Does that mean Prince has the right to take advantage of that? I think not. Not only legally, but also morally he is not in the right when he promises but doesn't deliver.

That's just fact, unless you only think about yourself.

-
[Edited 2/10/09 11:00am]

conciousone said:

Like I said, just because YOU got "7 nights in his crib", 7 years ago and will thank him for that till your dying day, doesn't mean all the other fans had that opportunity.

Better yet, the vast, vast majority didn't, just like the vast, vast majority got nothing but self destructing computer files for a "25$ lifetime membership" last time.

So your view is actually cynical, because apparantly the law doesn't matter a damn thing to you, just as long as you got what you wanted eh? Screw the rest, because you are happy. Hmmm, I wonder what you would have said if you didn't spend "7 nights in his crib" and where you get that kind of "concious" from.

Anyway I am a lawyer and I am simply amazed by the continuing stupidity and ridiculous famminess of some people on this site. People really should know better by now.

It makes for good entertainment tho' so thanks!


--
[Edited 2/10/09 10:54am]

Tremolina said:

What kind of law are you talking about? That makes no sense. Look could Prince do more for fans than he has? Yes but he's done a lot for us in the past and that should not be ignore. Because I or other fans can see that Prince has done a lot for us and don't have any or very many complaints doesn't make us stupid or blind so you need to check yourself with that one, for real.

Tremolina said:

I never called you an enternal cynic, I just said they were as bad as the fams. You obviously read into it what you wanted, which says more about you than me.

Tremolina said:

If you are going to use quote marks, then shouldn't you get the quote right? I never said he'd given us, "a lot".
[Edited 2/10/09 13:05pm]

purplecam said:

What law? How about consumer protection laws? Are you a lawyer?

Look again I do not aree with the one who started this thread and it's really not like I enjoy pointing it out and getting slack for it, but I do because some on this thread are just stating outright lies and are attacking people with it.

The fact is Prince's website ventures have been repeatedly involved in practices of misleading advertising and defaulting on contractual obligations.

A few prime examples in particular to refresh your memory, just in case:

- Crystall Ball, tens of thousands pre-ordered it online exclusively for $ 50 only to find it in stores for $ 20 less months before receiving it.

- A npgmc membership costing $ 100 and flat out falsely advertising AT LEAST 4 NEW PRINCE CD'S, even naming the 4 new album titles too. Only 2 of those were delivered.

- A npgmc membership sold on a misleading advertisement offering a "25 $ lifetime membership"". That "lifetime" lasted maybe a couple of years and involved thousands of fans duped with songs they thought they paid for but can't listen to anymore.

Because he released lots of music he has the right to break the law??

Hello, the point you don't seem to get here, or don't want to, is that's his BUSINESS to SELL MUSIC TO YOU.

That's not "giving" my friend, that's SELLING. Surely you can see the difference.

If you on the other hand see it as some "personal relationship" you are having with prince, then wake up please, because then you have a problem.


Wait a second now. I did NOT call YOU stupid nor blind. I said in general that some people never learn in BUSINESS and will always be blind idiots.

If I offend you with that when it wasnt even aimed at you, nor at anybody else in particular here, then you are only saying that you can't seperate the man from the music.

You still have a lot to learn with Prince I see. But that's okay, one day you will understand what I am talking about.

In business you are in the wrong if you place misleading advertisements or do not live up to your contractual obligations.

Morally for most people too, regardless of how much music he has released. THAT has NOTHING to do with it.

--
[Edited 2/10/09 13:15pm]

Tremolina said:

So sue us, Perry Mason.

Good Christ, the caseload must be light...

Lock this pre-law meandering thread already, dayum!

Tremolina said:

The Crystal Ball fiasco is the only one of your examples that is applicable here and even then, I'm not sure that that any laws were broken simply because distribution was a massive fuck-up.

You're flat out wrong about the 4 CDs/$100 membership. The only place that titles were ever even suggested was the ONA tourbook, which was issued some time after the new membership structure was introduced. The deal was four 4 new Prince CDs, and that's just what we got. As I've said elsewhere, I too was disappointed with what they turned out to be, but to suggest that there was false advertising or a failure to comply with the agreement is untrue

As for the your last point, I really wish I had the terms and conditions of the site saved somewhere, but I assure that Lifetime membership was defined as "the lifetime of the site". How any logical person could assume otherwise is beyond me. Use a little common sense people!

Tremolina said:

Good lord, let it rest. He's done no such thing. If he had, surely someone could have mounted a civil or criminal suit against him, no?

Tremolina said:

Get off your high horse, buddy. There's a few things you need to get a better grasp on yourself.

conciousone said: