I am 99.9% certain that there will NOT be a NPGMC this year as I emailed the NPG at their address and they told me that they were not even considering re-opening the website this year, let alone the NPGMC site. I am really gutted that this Prince endeavour is over as a result of people complaining about it. I have only been a recent member, but recent enough to recieve Rave In2 The Joy Fantastic, which I think is fantastic, One Night Alone...Live, again which I love, Xpectation and Empty Room CD, For a year, this is more than enough music for me, and I have no complaints. I just wish those people who complained didnt, and didnt spoil the NPGMC for the rest of us!

Anyway, it looks as though Prince has given those non-supporters exactly what they want, to the detriment of the fams.

Maybe they will reconvene in 2004...that is if nobody complains before.

A disappointed Fam

I really hope you're wrong. However, I do feel that NPGMC would be silly to close their doors on fams. They need to learn from the experience. People weren't complaining for the fun it. They really do feel hard done by for whatever reason. (I'm not one of them) If NPGMC wants to run a business then it has to address customer complaints. Otherwise they should just give out the music for free to a mailing list and people can't complain!

I think there will be a club.

Prince promoted it heavily on the last tour and has just released the live set to the public, complete with his rant about joining the club and being in the good seats.

I know how he likes to change his mind, but it wouldn't make any sense to stop the club now. Remember also last year, wasn't there a month or two between year one ending and the year 2 announcement?

Prince can go F*ck a duck if he thinks he can pull the stunts he pulled last year again... if he decides to make a career change from talented musician to cult visionary good luck to him.

If he still has it in him to whip out some great compositions we'll all be there to buy them if he chooses a different distribution system.

Jonb said:

Non-supporters? Some of us, like myself, have yet to receive the ONA live OR studio CD. Do you expect us to rave about how great the club *was* for 2002?? If the guy can't run a business then he has nobody else to blame but himself.
[This message was edited Mon Jan 13 17:56:51 PST 2003 by sabaisabai]

The club ran itself into the ground, angry fans were a result of a lousy club. Many of us joined in good faith last year, despite numerous mishaps for several years with 1800newfunk. Prince can only milk his careless business practices for so long.

People who didnt recieve their ONA Live before it hit retail, people whos accounts were lost, damaged packages, rude replies, several months of no new music no new downloads and no answers... these are facts. And people who pay $100 for this have a right to say what they think of it.

The only thing I really care about is the music. As long as the music is made available, then I really don't particularly care about the NPGMC. My opinion would probably be different if the website offered some really good "behind-the-scenes" information on Prince and his latest projects. But, it just seems that with anything Prince does, we the fans always hear about it first through some source OTHER than NPGMC/Paisley Park, so what's the point?

For me, it's all about the music. So if the NPGMC closed shop and that meant that we wouldn't be able to get great stuff like "Xpectations" or all of the wonderful downloads from 2001 then, Yes, I would be very dissapointed.

To me, the biggest problem with the club is the overall lack of communication... and we all know where and who that lack of communication ultimately leads (Prince). So, really, since Prince himself is at the root of the problem, I really don't think anything is going to change. Because Prince is Prince... he's an artist first, which is how it should be. I just wish he would let someone else run the business. But in the final analysis, I still want access to the music because I believe the music is priceless and for me, the personal value of Prince's art (so far) has outweighed the "careless business practices" described by "NPGMCsucks".

I will be disappointed if there is no club this year. Maybe this year there will be several downloads that you have to pay for individually and more music in the retail section.
I guess that's likely, they release something, we pay for it individually.

calldapplwondery83 said:

For me, this would definitely be the way forward.
I would happily pay, say $10 (just a suggestion) for a download of 12 tracks and some official CD artwork that could be downloaded and then printed off. Alternatively, a proper CD could be sent to your home for an extra fee.
Also, maybe an extra $20 to register your interest in any upcoming concerts/celebrations, which would allow people to book pre-sale tickets as before.

The only reason there would not be a club this year is if Prince has no projects "in the can". Considering he's taking a break from touring, I'd expect him to work on some studio materials during the next month or two, and if he has a couple projects in the can in the next month or so, he'll do the Club again.

Keep in mind that Prince doesn't seem that interested in releasing old material, which may make it tough to commit to a 4CD obligation when he has nothing presently sitting on the shelf for release. Last year, he had already finished ONA when he announced the club, and he was in the process of recording Xenophobia. I'd imagine that made him less nervous about committing to the 4CD promise.

If I were him and was thinking about what to do for the Club this year, for starters, I'd master his soundboard copy of the recent "Nighttown" show (which I have yet to hear--but hear is great) and make it the first CD. I think the reaction from club members to such a release would be very positive.

i would like to see npgmc 2003, but if he's not going to be touring this year, then i can understand why there wouldn't be one... since he toured so heavily last year, i has assumed that he would probably take most of this year off for recording or whatever else...

if he isn't going to tour, a good alternative may be to offer the club at a reduced price this year, since it would be lacking the aftershow, soundcheck, & premium seating perks...

but who knows... although last year wasn't perfect, i'm planning on joining again...

if thats his reasons.. He's a Big Puss!


Eat a cookie, rainbow boy..

Maybe the club was just not profitable

Jonb said:

i dont believe this . . ..4 a start! .. . . .NPGMC dont say dick about the happenings of the club via email!

I cannot believe what i have just read,no npgmc this year!!!
i am new to this site, and was looking forward to npgmc. Well all i can do is hope things change..
A disappointed fan

Why do people think there is no more NPGMC? Patience!

I feel certain there will be a 2003 NPGMC. Until Prince decides what the 2003 membership will consist of and relays that information to us, we'll just have to be patience and wait. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy ONA-Live and Xpectation.

Princey baby, you are the light of my life. Please say it isn't so!

It bewilders me why you of all people would let a few knuckle heads effect what you have worked so hard to accomplish. Please do not allow these people to affect your decision making -- it is after your club not theirs!

EllisDee said:

Maybe he'll tour a couple US Cities every month or so. Sort of like a real hit-n-run but with new music. Hit NYC, Chicago, LA, A Big City in Texas, Atlanta,Bay Area, etc. I'm sure it wouldn't satisfy all members who don't live close though.

Joshy84au said:

Agreed! Why would they tell one person and not post a note on the front page of the website. I think this is crap.
He will have a Music Club - why wouldn't he, just because of some complaints? God, if he bowed out anyone complained about him we would never have seen him past 1980.
Secondly - he was so passionate about spreading his music vision via the club, do you think he would go back to the "old ways?"
If there was no club then why the downloads in early Jan?

Everybody relax - he'll come around and I betcha he'll do a world tour again this year - a little birdie told me

lashious said:

I hope the birdie is right! & not just shitting in people's eyes!

I have faith the Club will be back for 2003.

lastdecember7 said:

I think this is probably the case, or maybe it wasn't profitable enough for all the headaches it caused. I joined both years and it was well worth the money both years. But then again, I live in Atlanta where he played numerous concerts.

I am disappointed that we haven't even received an e-mail from the club about its current status or future plans. Maybe Prince is just embarrassed about it not working out and he doesn't even want to talk about it.

The npgmc started in 2002 on Feb. So maybe they start also in Feb this year.

Has anybody else tried to e-mail the NPGMC and received a reply on this matter besides Jonb???

Well I had lunch with Prince the other day at (eat Ur Vegitables) and he told me all about it ... but he asked me not 2 say any thing. so Im gonna respect his wishes.

.
[This message was edited Sat Jan 25 2:00:51 PST 2003 by Nina72]

NPGMCsucks said:

drove
us
2
the
cleaners
in
a
pin
striped
suit

sabaisabai said:

Of course just the image of him being behind the cmputer for the site, doing the packages with his fellow musicians and deliver them directly at your door just make me laugh...

lastdecember7 said:

Well at least tell us what you two eat??