If there's a thread about this already, I missed it. I don't think this email is a hoax, and maybe I'm overreacting, but what the heck is THIS all about (see highlighted part below)?

Hello NPGMC,

Just a reminder, u can now download "The Vanguard Jam" video from the
Musicology Download Store featuring a 12 minute live per4mance with
Prince, Sheila E., Morris Day & Jerome Benton. The video download is
presented in wide-screen 4mat with superior audio quality 2 the television
broadcast. Don't miss this historic jam!

The only way the NPGMC will succeed and grow is thru the support of
it's members. The more participation we get, the more the club will
unfold. Remember, we no longer charge u a renewal fee each year. U can stay
as long as u like without paying the cover charge ever again. But in
doing that, we need ur help 2 keep the club growing. If we can get every
member 2 buy a download thru the store as a show of support, and get
their friends and family 2 join in 2, we can guarantee the NPGMC will have
a future.

Spread the word, tell a friend! They don't need 2 b a member 2 buy a
download from the Musicology Download Store. Let everybody know where
they can get real music by real musicians!

http://www.npgmusicclub.c...xer_1.html

Also available:
- "GlassCutter," the hot new jam from Prince.
- "Strange Relationship (Live)" recorded in 1987 with the Sign O The
Times Band
- Live From Paisley Park EP featuring 3 trax recorded live in 1995
- One Nite Alone, solo piano and voice CD
- The Kamasutra CD, recorded with the NPG Orchestra

Love4oneanother,
The NPG Music Club
http://www.npgmusicclub.com/

Are they implying NPGMC may go under because not enough people are buying downloads? Prince, in interviews (for example, Ebony magazine last year), asserted he was selling "hundreds of thousands" of records via NPGMC...maybe not?

that is abit odd, but i genuinely don't think its suffering that much

i mean, just from people coming on here and talking about what they've downloaded (multiple things too), everytime he puts something new up it probably downloads enough to pay for the store itself anyway, even if its just a few hundred.

but he won an award a while ago about online innovation and sales and stuff, plus, don't forget he was top earner of 2004, so he's got enough money to keep the download store going for the rest of his life

to be honest i imagine its just a cheap and slightly crap way to try get people to forward the email round to about 20 people in the hopes of getting more custom anyway. its abit sad really but i imagine alot of people on the npgmc still do it!

softandwet said:

I dunno...I just spent awhile surfing the U Tell Us forum over at NPGMC, the reaction there to this email appears to be mostly negative!

This all reminds me of the July 2003 email... http://www.prince.org/msg/5001/56086

I was quite amazed when I read that mail as well!
Some nerv to ak every member to buy at least one download from the store.
Not to mention the fact that they ask you to go door to door like a Jehova's witness
and persuade others to buy as well!

I get the feeling it's not just about "real musicians playing real music", it's what everybody else in the business
is all about: make as much money as you possibly can.

They can close it down anytime for all I care. But that's just me being selfish because with
a Mac there is not much downloading to be done.

Latest email:

Hello NPGMC,

As a follow up 2 yesterday's emale, we wanted 2 send a message of thanx 2 all the members of the NPG Music Club. We want 2 make it clear that the NPGMC appreciates all the support the members have given us over the past 4 years. This music club has been a tremendous success and we thank each and every one of u 4 being a part of this xperiment in truth. Prince is an xceptional artist and it only makes sense that he has xceptional fans. 2gether we r showing the world what a truly independent artist and his community can do.

Love4oneanother,
The NPG Music Club
www.npgmusicclub.com

I guess they realised they put a few fans noses out of joint by inferring they weren't supporting the club enough! Well, at least they listened and issued what is basically an apology. Kudos.

metalorange said:

NPGMC hasnt been worth shit since the end of year 2. Even year 2 was a little suspect for the amount we had to pay. The only saving grace was the ONA tour and the front row tics...

With what is on offer at the club these days I would rather spend the signing up fee on a case of beer... Kamasutra? ONA? WTF?!? Utter crapness in all its shitty glory...

I'd rather see the music up on iTunes Music Store anyway. The overhead of maintaining his own download site, with bandwidth costs (and possibly people running it of questionable competence) vs. the cut he'd get from Apple, I believe he'd come out ahead (if I remember right, the label gets something like 70% of all sales, and since Prince IS the label now, it's all his)...

if they'd use a format that supports the iPod, I'd buy all of the new stuff. I told them from day 1 that they needed to support that and have refused to buy any of the music until they do.

discussion already in progress:

http://www.prince.org/msg/13/141265