Update: FUNKTEER@aol.com provides a URL for this article:



http://www.mostnewyork.co...h/a-40832.
asp

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The New York Daily News' Mitchell Fink (9/16) reports,



BARTER IS MUSIC TO THE ARTIST'S EARS



Money isn't everything to the Artist fromerly known as
Prince.
The singer-songwriter is a big proponent of the barter
system - even in the music business.
In fact, The Artist persuaded Sheryl Crow, Ani DiFranco,
and Gwen Stefani to appear on his new album "Rave Un2 The
Joy Fantastic" without one penny changing hands.
Instead, The Artist initiated what he called an "artist
bartering system," which is designed to keep managers and
record companies out of the deal and follow the belief that
"you give me something for my album, and I'll give you something
for yours."
"Sometimes you don't want to take your apples to the apple cart,"
said The Artist, who added that Crow is one of the "funkiest"
musicians he has ever worked with.



The Artist's "gentleman's agreement" also holds true for
the record deal between himself and producer Clive Davis, two
people brought together by the 41-year-old musician's business
partner and counselor, L. Londell Mc Millan.
"Clive Davis is a really cool guy," said The Artist. "He
and I have an Agreement, not a DISagreement. The contract we
have is so small, it's only two pages long. We left in all
the things we agree to do and took out all the paragraphs
with the word disagree. It's so short, we could have done the deal
with a handshake."
While there will be a private listening party session this
afternoon in New York for The Artist's new album due out in
early November, rumor has it that the capricious star will
play in impromptu gig tonight somewhere in town.