More From Electronic Urban Report on Prince Press Conference:



*In our last installment of the regular EUR (06-07-00) we were speaking to Prince Rogers Nelson about his decision to change his name back to the one his momma gave him, his opinions in regard to music download sites and his upcoming works. In May we reported that hearings were underway in Washington, DC
to talk about the work for hire clause which record companies instituted without first conferring with artists. Prince, as opinionated as ever, was up on that situation as well.




"We can count our money and we can fix our own problems, but we can't do that if we're held under these constricting, restrictive contracts. (There were talks) in Washington about the work for hire clauses which record companies instituted without debate. This states that all sound recordings will become the sole ownership of said companies for all time. Do we really need to discuss this? Work for hire would be an art director who designs the cover of a CD. Even at 17, when I got in the business, I never believed that I worked for Warner Brothers. We picked them, after much, deliberation, to perform a service." Prince also told us of some new projects he's developing.


"We recently have been working on some new music with some very smart musicians. One of the songs, 'Cyber Single,' is dealing with many of the subjects that I just spoke on (during this interview). There's talk of a tour, but my main concern right now is to take time to study things of a spiritual nature. So, I'm gonna go away for a while and do that. I hope to be on the road for a tour by July or early August, if not, then I hope you all wish me the best."


As many of you already know, Prince changed his name to that symbol thinga-ma-jig so that he could escape long term contracts. We asked him since his name is Prince again does that mean he can retain ownership of his masters? Here's what he had to say.


"I recently announced that I was going to re-record my masters. There's a long debate going on with that. I personally think that you can simply remix it and add a little something here or there. I have possession of the master tapes. The disagreement comes when I try to release them, sell them and gain the benefits for my family. It's an interesting argument.


It is a well known fact throughout the industry that Larry Graham and Prince go back like spinal cords and car seats. Prince is also cool with Carlos Santana and is now in the middle of a situation in which Santana used a Graham song and did him like VISA PLATINUM
would do a brother in the "PJs" ... he got no credit.


"Carlos Santana has a song on his album that he didn't give Larry Graham credit for. It's called, 'The Calling.' Now they're both brothers of mine and they both inspired me a great deal. I'm in the middle of it. We all sit together in a room, we talk, we get together and we play. This is no diss against Carlos because he admits that song is on there. But he hasn't done it publicly yet. So, I'm helping him along right here today. I love Carlos like a brother, but there are some things that go on, like compulsory license. These laws are just made up when they change music to content. We have to somehow get back to allowing music to be organic."


There was once a time when many thought that Larry Graham was just as talented a musician as Carlos Santana, but one is in the spotlight and the other is not. Why? Prince told us he once asked Clive Davis the same thing and Clive responded by saying he could never
do the same thing for Graham that he did for Santana.


"Larry Graham has a lot to say and to shut him out of the stores is a crime. Chaka Khan made an amazing record and radio stations just shut her down. I was talking to a program director and said 'Do you love Chaka Khan?' He said 'Oh, I love Chaka Khan.' But he didn't play any of her songs. I asked him who his favorite singer was. He said Yolanda Adams. (He said) he likes her because she was inspirational and made him feel good. Then I asked him was she on his playlist and he said no. I asked him why and then I couldn't get a straight answer."


Prince is not even half way done droppin' major heat rocks on us in regard to the music industry, but alas, we must cut this one.PERHAPS, given some major editorial coaxing, MAYBE we can bring him back sometime next week.