http://www.latimes.com/ex...70391.html



ARTIST RIGHTS



The Artist (formerly known as Prince), who likened major record label policies over master-recordings ownership to slavery when he left Warner Bros. Records and set out independently, is apparently returning to the citadels of the music business. The Minneapolis musician is working out a deal to release his next album on a major label, with Arista Records said to be the leading candidate.



He's not giving up his independence, says his attorney L. Londell McMillan, but rather looking for ways to strengthen it. Where the music business standard is for acts to sign multi-album deals with labels, this deal will be for one album only, and will be a straightforward licensing arrangement for manufacturing, distribution and promotions from the company, while the Artist will be free to negotiate with other companies for future releases, and will also continue to release music through his own NPG label.



McMillan likened the arrangement to that of a major film star. "If Sylvester Stallone wants to make a small, indie film, he's free to do that, and if he wants to make a major studio blockbuster, he can do that too, without having to sign for several films," McMillan says.



Since leaving Warner Bros. in 1994, the Artist had one other major-label release, with his best (and best-selling) post-Warners album "Emancipation" going through EMI in 1996, but that company folded the next year.



Meanwhile, he's not completely done with Warner Bros., having consented to the release of an album made from unused material recorded during his time at the company, and still, therefore, in its ownership. "The Vault... Old Friends 4 Sale," is due Aug. 24 -- though Prince won't be involved in its promotion.