http://www.people.com/article/linda-perry-sheila-e-prince-billboard-music-awards

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"On behalf of musicians, artists, creators, performers and anyone aspiring to be one of those, YOU ARE RELEVANT!" Sheila E. wrote that same day. "It was exactly that type of attitude and comment, recently conveyed on a talk show by a misinformed guest, that Prince, Paisley Park and those who have been an extension of, continually fought, and still fight, against."

Adding, "The creations and the creators, contrary to fleeting popularity or fame, is what breathes life into art. The lack of understanding, and myopic view of dollars over sense is what perpetuates the ignorance that continually works against the artist, and the industry. I am offended! #RELEVANT"
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She's also posted a video on FB and Instagram concerning this matter:

https://www.facebook.com/...r/?fref=ts

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Let's just face it, that Billboard tribute has NOTHING to do with Prince and everything to do with business and egos.
If it did have anything to do with Prince, Sheila E and many others would be on it. Period.

[Edited 5/21/16 3:11am]

[Edited 5/21/16 3:12am]

I've noticed Linda Perry getting misguided flack for her comments. She noted reality, that "it's really the Billboard Awards, they think about who is hot and popular." Folks are shooting the messenger, her statement was correct. Prince made mention of the same thing about the industry and radio.

Eileen said:

I've noticed Linda Perry getting misguided flack for her comments. She noted reality, that "it's really the Billboard Awards, they think about who is hot and popular." Folks are shooting the messenger, her statement was correct. Prince made mention of the same thing about the industry and radio.

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Bingo. Prince spent a lot of his career talking about the way the music industry works. I really want a tribute to him consisting of Sheila, Janelle Monae, Lenny Kravitz, etc., but they're not going to put any of them on that stage because Billboard, and by extension the tributes they do, take into account nothing except popularity.

Good on Sheila to counter such a dismissive remark but I think the torrent of Madge bashing is far worse. She's the last of the holy trinity of 80s pop music left, they were friends/foes/collaborators, she's a consumate entertainer with a nearly flawless musical instinct, and unfortunately for Sheila fans, she has far more pull on a global audience. Can't expect an organization such as Billboard to ignore that fact.

Besides I bet that if Sheila had been chosen, there would be people asking when exactly will Madonna get around to paying a musical tribute, isn't she a little tardy?

Face it folks. Nobody would make everyone happy.

just found what Linda Perry said that got SheilaE fired up. Linda needs to applogies and the Purple Community and everyone jumping on the purple bandwagon now should boycott the Billboards. Respond with low ratings on Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/w...V-yNjjz3Lw

[Edited 5/21/16 4:28am]

OperatingThetan said:

Shelia E should be receiving criticism for her attempt to become some kind of chief or figurehead for Prince now that he's passed. Before he passed she was attacking Prince in her biography and telling the press he left her 'penniless'. She also made various derogatory remarks on twitter including an accusation that Prince's Superbowl performance was pre-recorded ('Was it live or was it memorex?'). Shelia publically stated that all the vault music should be 'destroyed' snd yet I still see people here and on fb nominating her as the best person to protect the vault and Prince's legacy.

Do you lie? Do you lie? Do you lie?

Sheila's biography is quite flattering to Prince, she blames the million dollar debt on her own ignorance and mismanagement, and credits Prince for paying it off on her behalf when she became ill and unable to do so herself.

schbobby said:

just found what Linda Perry said that got SheilaE fired up. Linda needs to applogies and the Purple Community and everyone jumping on the purple bandwagon now should boycott the Billboards. Respond with low ratings on Sunday.

https://www.youtube.com/w...V-yNjjz3Lw

[Edited 5/21/16 4:28am]

Just watched the video of Linda Perry. This thing was blown out of proportion. She called them irrelevant not because she thought they were irrelevant but because that's how the people in music business who call the shots think and operate and yes, to those they are irrelevant, unfortunately. They know they'll reach a wider audience having Madonna pay the tribute, but the whole stance of her being the only "artist" doing it makes me think it's probably one of her terms to do it. She wants to shine. So, in short, and like i said above, it's not and never was about Prince. Wherever he is right now, I can imagine him pulling one of his faces and going: "Huh huh, my friends ain't gonna be a part of that pantomime!"
It's just celebrities going through the motions, that's all. No substance.
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I am SO looking forward to the REAL tribute that hopefully his family and close friends will give him, with Sheila E, The Time, and all the people that loved Prince and were a part of his life.

[Edited 5/21/16 5:02am]

[Edited 5/21/16 5:03am]

Aerogram said:

Good on Sheila to counter such a dismissive remark but I think the torrent of Madge bashing is far worse. She's the last of the holy trinity of 80s pop music left, they were friends/foes/collaborators, she's a consumate entertainer with a nearly flawless musical instinct, and unfortunately for Sheila fans, she has far more pull on a global audience. Can't expect an organization such as Billboard to ignore that fact.

Besides I bet that if Sheila had been chosen, there would be people asking when exactly will Madonna get around to paying a musical tribute, isn't she a little tardy?

I kind of feel sorry for Madonna, there is enormous pressure on her about this and that really is not fair. I would hope she may sing Love Song as that is a recording of them together, but my real wish is that the BB Awards just had a piano with a mic and spotlight set up and maybe his images in the background - that would be classy and upset nobody. I can understand why Sheila E is not part of the BB thing because most viewers would say "whos that?" maybe?

"On behalf of musicians, artists, creators, performers and anyone aspiring to be one of those, YOU ARE RELEVANT!" Sheila E. wrote that same day. "It was exactly that type of attitude and comment, recently conveyed on a talk show by a misinformed guest, that Prince, Paisley Park and those who have been an extension of, continually fought, and still fight, against."

Adding, "The creations and the creators, contrary to fleeting popularity or fame, is what breathes life into art. The lack of understanding, and myopic view of dollars over sense is what perpetuates the ignorance that continually works against the artist, and the industry. I am offended! #RELEVANT"

suomynona said:

Face it folks. Nobody would make everyone happy.

^this

Guitarhero..you so crazy! lol

Linda had a point with respect to Billboard's priorities, but she effed up for two reasons.. saying the Chaka's and Sheila's of the world arent relevant (even if its true for the mass public of a certain age and racial demographic it's not something you should say, because it's certainly not true for everyone).. and secondly because she kept defending Madonna as the choice. There's plenty of ways they could do a tribute. Billboard exec decision to honor Madge's demands to do this alone does deserve critique because in a way it's like saying she's the closest to him or best musical choice to do it and that she's the most "relevant" artist out here today influenced by him (neither three criteria are true). But I can't criticize Madonna tribute because no one's seen it yet. Being an optimist I keep hope out that she'll surprise us with something that isn't cringeworthy.

Guitarhero said:

^^ it was posted be Shelia on her facebook

This whole thing is sad.From the top to the bottom.I get that everyone associated with him is trying to give back and pay a tribute to him.But,its all going south.This is why you have a memorial invite tv in let everyone who was something to him have their poems,song,dance,guitar moments.Even the change.org (love you orgers) but,even thats a hot mess.Just seems like EVERYONE is trying to out shine everyone.All wonder he stayed to himself and wasn't into people.For god sake he had to join the JW just to get inner peace of some type.

OperatingThetan said:

OperatingThetan said:

Shelia E should be receiving criticism for her attempt to become some kind of chief or figurehead for Prince now that he's passed. Before he passed she was attacking Prince in her biography and telling the press he left her 'penniless'. She also made various derogatory remarks on twitter including an accusation that Prince's Superbowl performance was pre-recorded ('Was it live or was it memorex?'). Shelia publically stated that all the vault music should be 'destroyed' snd yet I still see people here and on fb nominating her as the best person to protect the vault and Prince's legacy.

Sinead OConner said it should be destroyed. Sheila said she felt it shouldn't be released.

And I prefer anyone from the Purple camp 1980s to be a chief or figurehead... I have no problem with that.

TrevorAyer said:

The music industry and this country in general are completely and deeply racist Madonna is the only whore from the 80's left to trot out for the executives ... She has never had anymore talent than brittany spears Pop music is garbage for 6 year olds ... Prince was special in the pop sphere ... But only because he made the white boys money ... Not because his music was good Thats why they don't bother with a respectable tribute ... They really could not give a shit about the music or the man

How about we just keep this as close to the topic subject as possible.

race issues

The reason that I have an issue with Linda's statement is beyond the "relevance" she does back track herself a bit in the conversation. BUT let us remember that at one time PRINCE was told he was not "relevant" to be on the cover of VIBE and ROLLING STONE back in 1998. Now Linda and her statements are that KIND of mentality and that thinking is the cancer, and to be honest is MADONNA relevant??? in terms of BILLBOARD she is just relevant as a touring artist, her album didnt sell she is not on the radio nor charting singles so WTF is the point to the statement of "relevance" from Linda. If she wants it to be relevant to BILLBOARD have people like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry etc....doing it, Madonna isn't relevant to the thinking she speaks of, so that is why this is straight up BS.

As for people tuning in, honestly, is MADONNA that much of a ratings grab?? Is billboards show reaching that audience? I mean honestly for the PRINCE tribute your audience would be the fans of Prince and now most probably wont watch it so what is the point?

Guitarhero said:

Someone has too much time on his hands.

OldFriends4Sale said:

OperatingThetan said:

Shelia E should be receiving criticism for her attempt to become some kind of chief or figurehead for Prince now that he's passed. Before he passed she was attacking Prince in her biography and telling the press he left her 'penniless'. She also made various derogatory remarks on twitter including an accusation that Prince's Superbowl performance was pre-recorded ('Was it live or was it memorex?'). Shelia publically stated that all the vault music should be 'destroyed' snd yet I still see people here and on fb nominating her as the best person to protect the vault and Prince's legacy.

Sinead OConner said it should be destroyed. Sheila said she felt it shouldn't be released.

And I prefer anyone from the Purple camp 1980s to be a chief or figurehead... I have no problem with that.

Since when Sinead O' Blunder has a say in Prince's affairs?

Guitarhero said:

^^ it was posted be Shelia on her facebook

Anyone else thinks it's a little childish?

[Edited 5/21/16 10:05am]

TrevorAyer said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

TrevorAyer said:

Linda Perry was playing devil's advocate about the producers of Billboard making the decision, it wasn't a personal opinion of hers, and Sheila's worked in TV to know exactly who and what Linda meant.