{{{http://www.sky.com/skynew...10,00.html
PRINCE'S MAJOR U-TURN
It seems Prince is ready to do a U-turn and go back to a major record label despite swearing he would never work with one again.}}}

According to reports, the Purple One is close to a deal with one of the industry's biggest players, and appears to have forgotten his battle with Warner Music.

During the row, he took to writing the word slave on his forehead.

Prince has been releasing albums using his own record label since 1996 but has never come close to repeating his glory days.

An insider told the Daily Star "It's a big U-turn but he wants a successful album. Apparently J Records or BMG are the favourites".
Last Updated: 12:47 UK, Tuesday February 10, 2004

Maybe, we will get a decent album, if he signs with a major record company.

love2thenines2003 said:

On his forehead?

The only hope that we have with the major label release being a successful one, is if Prince is able to find a creative consultant that he can trust. He has the genius, but he needs someone to hold him accountable. We must remember what happened last time he signed with a major label...we don't need another "Rave."

I agree...let's hope its not another "Rave Unto...", it was a cool CD, but I think he could have done MUCH better, not to mention the hype he received for it and it turned out to be one big flop, I felt bad for him / I would like to hear another Dirty Mind or Sign of The Times, 2004 style...what do you guys think ?

on his forehead they need to get there story straight it was his cheek...dumb people...lol

what he really needs is...


"wendy...


yes lisa..."



but not to be on his album...he should create one and they should create one..and spy on each other...the competition would result in two of the most mind albums ever!!!





errredit!!
[This message was edited Wed Feb 11 17:36:35 PST 2004 by sosgemini]

love2thenines2003 said:

He did?
P needs to do what needs to be done.
I'm dying to see how he will justify it though.

---

Truth be told, I couldn't care less if he does a "U-turn." At the end of the day, what matters 2 me is the music. If Prince wants a successful record and thinks he needs 2 go 2 a major label 2 do that, then more power 2 him.

All these labels being flung about like "hypocrite" and "phony" are totally and completely meaningless. Seriously, grow up. I'm hearing the same nonsense I did when he changed his name back to Prince. Some fans saying they felt "betrayed" by it. Gimme a goddam break. Who cares if its his name on the record or the symbol?

What difference does it make if his next album comes out on NPG or on J, BMG, or any other label? If u really care about the music, it doesn't matter. I'd love 2 see Prince return to MTV, VH1, and Billboard, and i'm pretty sure a lot of u do 2.

So Prince, sign with whoever u want, make an amazing record, promote the hell out of it, and get back 2 the top of the charts where u belong. We need u there now more than ever.

getwild007 said:

You betcha.

We'll see.. I'm sure this deal will give him full control again like Rave. I tried listening to Rave the other day and find it even worse than I remembered it. I would like to see him collaborate with some artists like Outkast, Norah Jones, Pharrell, Snoop or Dr Dre and maybe even Jon Mayer or someone totally top 40 just to see what they could come up with..

My favorite Prince songs are always just him by himself playing everything with a cool original drum beat, bass and guitars..

The new song 'Life O The Party' is very cool in the sense that music is funky and commercial, and the lyrics are fun with Prince taking a stab at himself...

Don't forget 'Musicology', this is one of his more funky efforts lately...and at least the music video sounds cool.

All he needs is some consistancy...

Sooo stupid.

U-Turn

"and go back to a major record label despite swearing he would never work with one again."

*What was Arista and Rave??? OR the Interview with Tavis Smiley on BET

"forehead:

"Prince has been releasing albums using his own record label since 1996 but has never come close to repeating his glory days."

* Emanipation & Crystal Ball those 2 Albums alone grossed Prince more money then he made in ALL His Years with Warner Bros. Since he has been on his own in 1996-2004, Prince has bought Homes in Hawaii,Spain & Canada.


Isn't it funny when you know something (example Prince or Boxing) and you hear people on TV ..all the news people talk about it or do stories about it and they are 80% wrong about EVERYTHING they say.. makes you freak because YOU Personally know that subject and you know their wrong! ..and WE always just take their word their facts & reporting is correct on every other story on the News or Newspaper.

Hmmm...

Yep I don't care. My only suggestion is that he records two copies of the same album. And release the one that goes against his better judgement.

IE: Rave the major release and Rave the club version. My vote is the club mix was two thousand sixty times better.

getwild007 said:

See, that's where you're wrong...some of us are more realistic than that.

if P wants to have a sucsessful album again he NEEDS TO BRING IN A PRODUCER . without question,over the past 15 years, he has grown as a musician,singer,and songwritter. you could argue that there have been potential 'hit' songs on every single record he has released since his days with warner. WHERE HE HAS FAILED HIMSELF IS AS A PRODUCER. he needs to do what Madonna did and bring in someone up to date or GASP perhaps a step or so ahead of the pack . someone who can take what P gives them and put it into a 21 first century context. THAT EIGHTIES PRODUCTION STYLE HAS GOT TO GO.

Contrary to popular belief, to my knowledge, Prince never said he would NEVER sign with a major label again. He only said that he would never be a slave again and sign away his masters. If a major label wants to do business with Prince on Prince's terms, then I'm sure Prince sees no problem at all with that.

Is Prince more flexible in his negotiations these days? Perhaps. But that still doesn't mean he'll be a slave again. All a matter of how one chooses to look at the situation I suppose.

chrisslope9 said:

Your argument has been raised many a time. And I suppose that if Prince is after "commercial" success, then your argument may have some merit. But artistically speaking, having someone else produce Prince would be like Van Gogh letting someone else tell him which colors he should use in his paintings.

do you think it is at all possible that mr van gogh , once or twice, sought the advice of those around him?

chrisslope9 said:

Ironically the majority of the "IN" producers produce within the confines of what Jamie Starr(1980-82) Prince (84-87) left for them in his legacy. In other words the Neptunes (Pharrell), Outcast, and many other "in" production crews sound just like the "young" Prince used to. If Prince chose to he could easily best them at his own game. I think he has just moved on. Wow he is 45 years old. I'm like 30 and sometimes I don't know what the hell the younger generaton is think about when they do some of the weird (and stupid) things they do.(see MTV's Real World...WTF)

getwild007 said:

AMEN IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC!

Prince, Start with the Linn drum. Put on some of your old records and get into the vibe we get into and miss! Lock yourself in the studio...alone. No input from the NPG or anyone else. Start slowly and move into the funk. Not so much overdubbing, but lots of vocal! Stay focused and bring back that "Purple High" that burned so beautiful at one time...we all miss it!

locoarts said:

Amen brother! I agree with everything you said (except that he made more money from Emanc and Crystal Ball than his earlier stuff). Most reporters and people in the media are idiots and/or hacks who have their facts wrong most of the time. This story is total bullsh*t and has no basis in the truth.
[This message was edited Thu Feb 12 1:07:25 PST 2004 by TonyC]

This could be great, and lets face it what NPG records lack is a marketing and promotional departement, whats the point trying to make a "comeback" or even a brill record,when the ppl (not prince fans) dont even know there one out there, be honest, how many ppl have u spoke to that say stuff like "he hasnt do anything in years" you tell them he brings out a new recoed every year, sometimes two a year, and they say "Didnt know that" and couldnt care.`Has any record or artist ever really had any sucess with NPG records Chaka, Larry, Rhonda and any one else. Not taking a stab at NPG but you need promotion and all that crap that goes with it to reach a wider audienceand to sell records especially 2 day...

chrisslope9 said:

I have to say NO he probably didn't. If you read the biographies of Van Gogh he was practically mad! He did what he saw in his head.

The irony is that he only ever sold ONE painting during his life. That's right ONE. Now of course his genius is recognised and his paintings are the most expensive ever sold.

So you could argue that maybe Prince's true genius will only be recognised after he is gone an d that he should also continue to do things the way he sees/hears them in his head.

Then again that could be a very tenuous assumption and I could be pulling your leg!!!

I have stated at least three times in the last month that Prince was on the verge of returning to the mass market via a major. Through my top source at Warner with whom I used to work with (at Sony), I was informed that Warner Music under new ownership and captaincy have been in negotiations with Prince about a return of soughts. Basically, the idea is that NPG have a similar deal to Madonna's Maverick. Prince would retain majority control but with the setup and financial support to have a more far reacing impact. BMG are as I understand it, the only other serious contenders having recently been given the adrenaline shot of a Sony takeover.
The Warner return makes sense when you scratch beneath the surface. The debate about control over his masters would cease to be a problem. George Micheal went back to Sony after a similar battle. Warner is a different company under new ownership. Warner have awesome clout. Sorry to shatter the dream but it is alleged with much reliability that although Prince had his points against Warner, he was fairly troubled at the time by drugs, lack of privacy, pressure and expectancy - the man needed a break from the mass market. Also consider the relationship between Warner and Prince, like a marriage or a best friend things can go terribly wrong and be righted in time. Time is a healer, And Prince is much wiser, stronger and more realistic than he was a decade ago. He's more business savvy - he knows how things work at a record label. As bigger Prince fan as I am (hardcore!!!) while I sided with him over Warner, I believe that he behaved in some ways like a spoilt child throwing his toys out of the pram. Warner and the music industry are also aware things need to change. Lack of genuine talent, rows with established artists and declining record sales are common place.
As diehard fans Prince has given himself to us for the last decade. We're selfish to keep him to ourselves. He belongs on the big stage, the music mass market has never needed him more. He is no longer under the same pressure to deliver, he can stand up and return to the mainstream as a legend. We must let everyone else have him for a while.

superstarolly said:

He - u sound really wise - like Yoda or something (just kidding) But u r right !

Thats exactly what I mean

superstarolly said:

From my point of view; i really think that WB is the best deal 4 Prince 4 a lot of reasons (C above)& next>


Warner Music Group, the music division of Time Warner Inc., is being acquired for $2.6 billion by a group of private equity investors led by Seagram heir Edgar Bronfman, Jr. The deal should be finalized at the end of the month

(apparently since November from a French cinema magazine >Studio n°196)

Insiders have said the top priority for Bronfman is working out a new deal with Madonna's record label, "Maverick"and re-signing legendary music artist Prince.

BTW Prince is in Los Angeles to perform at the annual Clive Davis, Pre-Grammy Party.


But the deal is apparently on the good way with clive davis C above (BTW Prince is in Los Angeles...)+
An insider told the Daily Star "It's a big U-turn but he wants a successful album. Apparently J Records or BMG are the favourites".

So what does this all mean ?? > i much Prefer C Prince Re-signs with WB than BMG>SONY or whatever!

superstarolly said:

Some very good points here. Those crying "hypocrite" to Prince need to examine this in further detail. First off, Prince NEVER said he wouldn't work with a major label again. He said he would never sign a contract that made him a "slave" to a major again. Prince has said time and again that he would work with a major if it meant that he could retain ownership of his masters, and creative control over his music. Both Emancipation and Rave were done through majors, with the deals reflecting his demands.

I'm sure that if the new suits at WB would give him his master tapes back, Prince would sign in a heartbeat. It just all depends on what they have to offer. P still has a whole lot of problems with the music industry, and I doubt he will cease to be vocal about them if he signs with WB or BMG. The fact is, despite his track record in the last decade or so, Prince still has much potential to return to the top of the charts (if Carlos Santana can have a comeback, so can P). All he needs is the right promotion. Hell, if Rave had been promoted properly, it could have been a hit, despite being a lackluster album. If the recording industry can sell awful swill like Britney albums, it can sell almost anything.