After what most of us considered a let-down of a 2003 NPGMC, what carrot could they dangle to make you say "hmmm, okay, I'll give it another go..."?

And if you liked this year's club, what is it about NPGMC that will have you coming back for more? I'm curious.

Another new album at midnight would help.

Actually though, I'd probably be willing to shell out again for the same thing. Call me a sucker, but I'm happy to support the artist in this way. Hm, then again... give me a moment, I'm undecided... time for a beer.

Hmmm interesting question Anxiety. I joined this year because I thought $25 was not too bad a price. I did not expect Prince to tour the UK again in 2003 as he had only just been in October 2002 (I also had a bad concert experience which made me question whether or not the whole "first 15 rows for NPGMC members" was so great anyway).

I guess realistically I thought that there may be some new music that I could get my greasy mits on either exclusively, or first. I downloaded Reflection, bought NEWS from the Club (and for me it was delivered to my UK home before it hit the shops), bought the new DVD from Play.com (as it was slightly cheaper), I also managed to bag a copy of Beautiful Strange VHS and the Days of Wild CD single from NPG Retail.

A lot of the songs that were featured in the Reflection Room I did not have in my collection (mainly the associated artist stuff), so I was glad to get a listenable version (I know they are mono 96k or whatever but they are reasonable clear). The three or four videos were a bonus too (not including the Aladdin ones) as was "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?".

I have enjoyed the forums immensely (I know you could do without this aspect) although of course I find the lack of information as frustrating as the next man at times.

So as you will probably see I would pay $25 for a similar club next year (I got a fair bit out of it). I really would like the opportunity to buy the Year 1 downloads on CD (in CD-audio format) as I was not a member then and have never heard the majority of the songs.

I would love more music related surprises, more songs included within the $25 fee, more music. Part of me always prepares for not getting that much more though.

I am a Prince music fan and I am in it for the music. So as long as they dangle even a little more of that I will come back for more.

I will not be rejoining until I can buy tickets to a show that's sufficiently close to where I’m at.
For something with the word "music" in its name, there's a surprising emphasis on shopping and religion.
I can do without it.

Actually, there were many hints recently that this membership year will not end now but continue. So, it maybe a summary of the 2003 NPGMC might be too early.

some
honesty

&
some
new
music

MUSIC. Previously unreleased, that is.

But that surely won't get me into this sappy arena of fams called the forum. Hell no. To get me there, the overall atmosphere has to become more open minded.

I'd even take the not user friendly design if they change their mind on above mentioned issues.

Wolf

As soon as you subscribe, you get a new album to download immediately. A damn good, eclectic mix of funk, rock, ballads, jazz etc.

The promise (to be kept of course) of a couple of new songs (or better still, unedited vault songs) every month.

Usual concert perks.

First go at buying any new CD waaay before it goes on general sale, not just a case of a couple of weeks.

Fire the current PPs and replace them with less self-righteous people with proper, warmer names. A bit more freedom of speech wouldn't go down too badly across there. And any 'fams' who currently get away with smug, pompous put-downs simply because they're 'supporting' Prince and the Club should have their forum rights taken away.

Just tell where to sign ...

SensualMelody said:

Let's face it, most of us are pretty much thinking the same thing.

Haystack said:

If you mean by "most of us", the couple of hunderd people that actively participate in online prince fora etc. then yes, i think you're right. If you mean all current club subscribers I think you're wrong. Last year, hot on the heals of a very succesfull ONA tour in Europe, I know many casual Prince fans who joined up either before or after seeing a show... they resubscribed in 2003 because the price was only $25.
Let's face this ... more casual fans got exactly zero from the club this year. By the time they do their once-a-month logon to the club ... new music is already available in shops or other online outlets, often for less money than through NPGMC. Also, as a casual user, it's the luck of the draw to either know about new downloads available on NPGMC, to be able to find them ... and then frustratingly, often new downloads are removed after only a couple of weeks ... i see no reason whatsoever why these more casual Prince fans wouldn't at least wait for concrete info on tourdates before rejoining.

If there were a committed emphasis on THE MUSIC, I wouldn't even think twice about it. Would it kill him to post one or two Vault tracks for club members, or even some little doodle throwaway tracks here and there?

Also, if the forums became kinder and gentler, and if the funky "fam" attitude were challenged in an attempt to crack the nut of celebrity worship and promote a higher relationship between artist and audience, I would be truly impressed and honored to give my money to such an effort.

But that ain't gonna happen, cuz a certain someone still seems to think he's Liberace.

So yeah, more music.

m3taverse said:

No, I'm not referring to the people who enjoy the forums over there - I know I certainly don't. I'm referring to the Prince fans who, regardless of what goes on in the previous year, will join again just in case they miss out on anything. Dangling the carrot is an NPGMC trick that they've used for three years now and you can guarantee that they'll be doing it again very soon. And it'll work. It certainly worked earlier this year after the embarrassment that was 2002. I, along with many others here, absolutely slaughtered Year 2 of the Club at the time, but I notice that like me a lot of them joined again this year.

And ultimately, although it was disappointing, it was only $25. Hardly bank-breaking.

I'm not really crazy about paying money (however cheap) for the "privilege" of paying MORE money for stuff, but I have to be honest...if there were NO OTHER WAY to get my hands on it, I woulda paid twenty five bucks plus the price of a new CD to get my hands on "Rave In2"...that disc is really pretty damn good to me, as it's the first Prince "pop music" album that I've enjoyed thoroughly in quite some time - I enjoyed it leagues more than "Rave Un2". But that was a leftover offer from a previous club year, kind of a fluke offering. It's offers like that which will sucker me in to another year's "donation" to the club. But see, it's THE MUSIC that attracts me, not the cult of personality...

Check this out you sorry bunch of naysayers!

This was in the Member's Help forum.

Someone posted a message saying they just joined two days ago and were wondering about their membership expiring etc etc. Here's a bit, with a comment from PP9:



In your face!





That's right! I edited! So what?!
[This message was edited Wed Dec 31 14:14:58 PST 2003 by 2the9s]

Wow...you really told us naysayers...heh. HILARIOUS.

Anxiety said:

a cheese plate

Not me, I can't get in at all since the site came back up (username and password not on file message). Although they managed to email my password to me!! Not heard back from the help addy either.
If members do get some kind of treat like last year and I'm unable to access the site to dl it, I'm going to be mighty unhappy.
[This message was edited Wed Dec 31 15:10:39 PST 2003 by gsh]

Haystack said:

They did a pretty drastic makeover at the beginning of this year, reduced the price, and added a forum and a chat room. Not to mention, alot of people were under the impression that the 3 Vault rooms were finally gonna contain some great unreleased tracks.

The site actually started to look active and as if things changed for the better.

Then, to no suprise, after they got a bunch of people to enroll, the activity dropped to a near dead pulse.

theblueangel said:

Bow down before me, naysayers!

2the9s said:

happy newyear 2the9s

what would u bring back to the club? Music..

m3taverse said:

Happy New Year m3taverse!

Anyone else want a piece of me?!