Okay, From what the club has offered so far.. who's satisfied with year three?

No, not really. I get more information from prince.org, and the music Prince has put out during year 3 has been available in regular stores (except for "Reflection"). There really is no incentive to join.

But it's only been the first six months. (When did year 3 start? February? March?) Maybe the last half of the year will be different, but I doubt it.

No, I don't feel guilty enough yet.

gnations said:

Like the previous membership, I understood it lasted from the date you joined up until the end of the calendar year i.e. 2003 (or however much further Prince chooses to prolong it thereafter) rather than for a 12 month period.

Sdldawn said:

No. "Reflection" and "The Cause" cyber-riot aside, it's been a waste of money. I barely go there anymore.

I AM SATISFIED and tired of the naysayers who diss just for the pleasure of dissing...

I'm thrilled that you're satisfied, but it's rather short-sighted to assume that the people who are unsatisfied with the paucity of music this year are complaining just "for the pleasure of dissing."

It ain't all that fun to diss, trust me. It'd be much more fun to be excited about the club, but that would require some actual work on the part of the club...and this year seems to be the laziest yet in terms of actually satisfying the fans of the music.

I guess if I was looking for an online JW study group, I'd be pretty satisfied...but I just like the music. The current hypocritical "love4oneanother" bidniss just leaves me cold. Sorry.

At the moment, I'd say I'm a little dissapointed. But this is exactly what happened last year after we got One Nite Alone (piano). The club was basically silent for the rest of the year, but in the end they gave us One Nite Alone Live and the exclusive Xpectation and CNOTE downloads.

klaatu said:

I am satisfied too. I am happy with what I have received and experienced at the club. I really like the fact that each year has been different. This is the first time I've posted in a while here. I'm starting to spend more time at the NPGMC.

"satisfied"
with
what?

help
us
normal
ppl
understand
why??

I hate to say it, but, there's almost nothing to be "happy" about or NOT be happy about concerning year 3. So I guess I'm just sort of indifferent at the moment. Assuming that the DVD is released as planned I will have gotten everything I paid to get or get access to. The fact that I may get these things a few weeks earlier than most leaves me neither happy nor dissatisfied.


If there was more music available on-line or otherwise through NPGMC, then the balance would easily shift to "happy" for me personally. But the fact that there isn't more music doesn't leave me dissatified either because I know that isn't what I paid for. So for the people who are happy, I say "good for you" and for the people who aren't happy, I can see why they aren't.

It is somewhat interesting -- and I am sure happy that the club cost 1/4 of what it cost me the first two years... I am somewhat intrigued by the graphics, and I do wander around in the place quite often, looking for new stuff and the like.

50/50, which is to say the glass is half full

God no. The biggest diappointment to me is the person who sang about being free and continues to struggle to get free from Warners, stifles any real semblence of discussion between members. I do understand that it is whomever's discretion as to what is considering disrespectful, but I guess if you want to tell gays/lesbians/bisexuals their lifestyle choice is an abomination, that's okay.

This year's club has been a real deprogramming tool in terms of my lifelong love of all things Prince.

At this point, I feel like I put up with him more out of some kind of personal tradition than I do out of actual enjoyment.

Other artists don't ask for as much compromise as Prince does. Other artists give, other artists share, other artists interact.

The response for that may well be, "well, why don't you go play on THEIR sites then, if they're so much better?"

I have. I do. And more and more, NPGMC is becoming that annoying, high-maintenance relative that I tolerate and endure, because every once in a while it may have something semi-substantial to offer.

NPGMC Year Three is marketing dressed up as product. We're paying to live in Prince's infomercial. For a "music club", we've gotten precious little music. They hardly even post news updates this year, and when they do, it's insubstantial crap like "didn't Beyonce look like Tina Turner at the Pepsi Blast?"

If you like a steady diet of crumbs, NPGMC would be right up your alley.

Even then, prepare to starve.

I'm much happier that I can pick and choose what I want to buy this year instead of only being offered an expensive "bulk package" of stuff.

The $25 membership fee is nominal and discourages people from creating multiple accounts like on the org, creating chaos and screwing with others.

I passed on News. It was interesting to listen to, and I saved my streaming copies. But the album didn't amaze me enough to buy it.

I'll prob hold off on the DVD too until I hear some reviews of it, but it's nice that we have specific release dates this year.

The club was pretty active when it first opened, hosting celeb chats, listening parties, etc. Far more than what they have ever done before. But right now it's kind of mellowed out, and I don't visit it much.

Whatever Prince wants to do these days, at least he's lessened the commitment on fans behalf. The club's offerings are more ala-carte this year.

Also, there is quite a bit more correspondence and specific information.

Tom said:

Thanks for the glass-half-full commentary, Tom. It helps me to look at it from a different perspective.

Well, $25 isn't a LARGE fee, granted, but I wouldn't call it nominal. In terms of music, which is what the site is supposed to be all about, I don't think that we've been given anywhere near $25 worth.

I understand that the year's not over, and I understand that there was no commitment made on the club's part, but I still think it's valid to question the value of the club. $25 for one mp3 and the opportunity to purchase retail items a week or a month in advance (and then take your chances with NPG retail)...that's just not a very good return for our music dollar.

stymie said:

I'll have half a glass of what she said.

I will say that I'm happy for other club members for having access to "Alexa de Paris" and the 12" version of "I Would Die 4 U" from the Reflection room. Even though I have these tracks already and didn't personally benefit from these offerings, I was really happy for all the folks who'd never heard them before and were excited to hear them for the first time.

You know, kinda like being in a club about music or something.

klaatu said:

Hear, hear!

theblueangel said:

[This message was edited Mon Aug 11 9:34:49 PDT 2003 by LaMont]

theblueangel said:

Well, like you said , the year is not over. Naysayers and crybabies had egg on their punk ass faces last year when we got Xpectation all of a sudden, a free mp3 from the celebration, and the ONA set.

LaMont said:

LaMont, let me respectfully ask you a question, in hopes of a respectful answer:

How can you take the position of being a faithful and devout follower of Prince's vision and message, while at the same time calling those with contrary views names like "naysayers" and "crybabies", and using offensive and combative phrases like "egg on their punk ass faces"?

Is it okay to go against Prince's standards and sensibilities as long as you are defending his name? It seems like the way you communicate is hypocritical to what it is you are trying to defend, and I hope you can clear this up because based on your track record, you're never wrong about anything.

School me.

LaMont said:

\

I admit I had a share on the complaining, but who wouldnt when someone doesnt fufill what they first said.
[This message was edited Mon Aug 11 15:31:32 PDT 2003 by Sdldawn]

yes

Im cool with it but year one was the best. It was fun looking forward to monthly downloads.

It was worth the $25, so I am satisfied even though it hasn't been anything that amazing so far. But there are still a few months left this year, so we'll see what happens.

Well...

I'm happy I didn't join, if that's what you mean.

theblueangel said:

Nice.

I'd much rather be gushing too. I miss the feeling of knowing that I'm in on something or playing a slammin track that none of my friends have ever heard before...

Good post.

Anxiety said:

Sounds like LaMont is EXACTLY the type of customer NPGMC wants. Send what they ask, take what you get...

Sorry. I get enough of that at my job.

From what ALL i've heard about "year 3" from those lucky enough 2 navigate the site, I most likely would B very pleased, however THIS YEAR, unfortuately ppl using web tv ( such as myself... AND others WITH computers that R STILL unable 2 do so... ) cannot navigate the site! "Year 1" was also set up with the "downloads" etc. that I couldnt take advantage of either, UNTIL a friend did it 4 me. "year 2", however, was user friendly 4 me, as HE sent out the Cd's and there were no downloads. I guess one can say NOT owning a computer is my own damn fault & IT IS. I just hope that when I get one very soon now, I wont have troubles others WITH SOME COMPUTERS R still having getting around the site. BTW, I am getting a computer 4 other purposes besides P's site. I need one anyway 4 school...etc. But my opinion on the "year 3" ( from what I know... ) is positive. P is ONLY charging 25.00. ( cant beat that, no matter what! ) Then, the N.E.W.S CD is cheap & the DVD is very reasonable, not 2 mention the xtra downloads from time 2 time, AND the site ITSELF is beautiful and inspirational. Plus, one can assume P is posting there too, here & there & thus keeps it interesting, and mysterious, as we all know P is well-known as being a mystery. Theres ALWAYS something interesting going on, & its TOO BAD 4 us ppl that cant enjoy it yet. But those who can R lucky IMO. I am still a "PROUD" member however, as I want 2 support prince and his music however I can!
[This message was edited Mon Aug 11 21:17:05 PDT 2003 by grandebelle]