I just honestly can't see paying $10 for 12 computer files, period. No information whatsoever on who plays on it, on when it was recorded, or even information on which songs on The Chocolate Invasion are supposedly "extended."

Nada.

Because it's so much more fun when you're kept in the dark, isn't it? I swear, fans of any other artist would say "Thanks, but no thanks" at the lack of artwork alone.

Anyone else think that a fucking picture that you can download for the cover should at the ver least be available at the site? How hard is that? They're making BANK...so they can't use the "we're a fledgling independent" argument anymore.

I dunno...do you get liner notes or cover art when you download an album from Napster these days?

Anxiety said:

Excellent point. Alsp, artwork and liner notes come with some cost as well. If the price were higher and these things were included, there would be a number of fans complaining about the price. What can you expect for just $7? You are getting an entire ablum as it is!

Im gonna buy the cd also when it hits stores.. its not a big deal to me..


I do want artwork, but the music comes first.. and it literally came that way this time.. so im hip to it.

I would rather pay 7.77 - 9.99 and get the bare-bones...just the music...via download and get immediate gratification, than to have to spend 19.99 for some bloated "special edition" that might have a bit of pretty packaging to it, but at best boasts a couple of toss-off "bonus" tracks and maybe some wanky "video content" of the artists schmucking around in the studio or giving some kind of creepy/disinginuous PR "interview".

I'm no fan of acquiring new music via download, believe me - give me a new release on CD in a wrecka stow anyday - but I think there's more dignity in releasing something cheaper for faster access by fans than to soak fans for extra $$$ for the sake of extra packaging.

Just some thoughts...

theblueangel said:

I agree totally. Why couldn't they offer the same songs on CD on the same day? I mentioned this on NPGMC and the PP got all upset. Wouldn't most, if not all, fans rather just buy the CD? The only thing that makes any sense is that Prince knows many fans will buy the songs twice, thereby maximizing his profits. Call me cynical but that's what I think. Maybe I'm living in the past but I really wish Prince would just release CD's as well as downloads.

It's great to have access to the music so quickly (that’s the important stuff after all) but it wouldn't have been difficult to have an extra download with all the liner notes etc. It does seem strange as the CD images (when you click over the mixing deck) seem to have individual designs already!!

theblueangel said:

I don't have a problem with it. I don't have to have a picture or anything. I'll just enjoy the music. By the way, dig deeper, I'm sure you'll find more to complain about. Stay miserable.

PREDOMINANT said:

Exactly!! I think most of the other posters on this thread aren't understanding what I mean by "liner notes/artwork."

All I'm talking about is a picture on the website of the cover that we can download and print off ourselves...and maybe a few lines of info online about who/what/where, etc. - at least the basic stuff that you find in any album naming the players and composers.

I could care less about any dumb glossy CD booklet - that shit always looks cheesy as hell anyway, 'SPECIALLY when the club does it. I hated the ONA Live box, ugh.

But I don't see why they have to be so lazy as to not provide ANYthing to the buyer other than the DRM file. I'm not sure if you get covers on Napster, b/c I haven't used Napster in about 5 years. In fact, yesterday (Controversy and the Bataclan single) marks the first time I've ever paid for a music download, period.

If someone buys a whole album on iTunes, do they get any kind of online liner notes or cover artwork?

I purchased a single from Napster a few months ago, and for 99 cents I got a download. That was it. No illustrations, no liner notes, no nuthin' except for a file that eventually wound up on a CD-R. I was happy with that. I think that if NPGMC offered artwork/liner notes with music downloads, it would be cool and it would be setting a new standard. As it is, however, they're not doing things any differently than Napster or iTunes or any of the other online music stores out there...to the best of MY knowledge, anyway. Except for the fact that if you're a member, you get a break on the costs...

Mybe tehy'll put covers in the future like they aready did in the first year.

Seriously isn't that alittle overreacting. We have downloads of songs and still you're not happy!!!

Enjoy the music for once. This is just the beginning.

Besides, Hope you're fine blue friend!!!

Prince has offered online artwork/liner notes in the past, with TRC and Crystal Ball - both were cool offerings, but how many of you folks actually took the time to print the stuff out, cut it all to size, arrange the pages, get a nice crisp spine, and staple the mess together?

BE HONEST.

Meanwhile, the only other occurrence I've seen of such considerations was when Peaches offered a single download from her site (www.peachesrocks.com I think it is), with a print-out CD sleeve and back cover inlay. That was pretty cool.

Anxiety said:

Joan Jett offers albums for download for $10 in your choice of MP3 or WAV files, with artwork, through cool ears.
http://coolears.com/pages...2.cfm?id=7
Been doing it for years. None of that DRM bllocks and LOSSLESS!!!
Ms. Jett rocks on so many levels.

G

Anxiety says:

great point.
but i use my liner notes more as a reference, versus some sort of art/filler paper.
I like being able to go back and see the names of the persons involved/thanked, etc.
(Not that Prince will ever allow someone else's name to be credited 4 any work done.*eyeroll*)

I bought the single from the iTunes music store - took a matter of seconds from the time I found it until the time I had it in iTunes and the iPod. Came with the cover art too.

There's a reason Apple's store is dominating the market - they pay attention to details like this.

For $7.77? Not me...

When the album finally gets a CD release in the UK it will be between £10 and £14 (I'm guessing). At todays exchange rate that is somewhere between $18 and $25

It's all about the music.

Al

After seeing the intended artwork for Musicology, I'm thinkin' we're better off without.

theblueangel said:

On point as always, blue. How much trouble or expense would a couple of JPGs be? Throw me a frickin' bone.