I know they have a dispute I'm just not sure about a few things. Plese answer my questions.

When did Prince leave WB?

Why did he leave?

Does Prince Own the rights to all of his music?

Does WB own the rights to any of Prince's music?

Is WB doing the new GH without his permission?

What label was Prince on before Musicology?


Thanks sorry for so many questions.

I believe he left sometime in '96.

He didn't so much leave WB, but rather, he fulfilled his contract and refused to re-up with the company

He owns the masters to anything he produced after his contract fulfillment wtih WB.

Warners owns anything prince released with them during his contract with them. Since the song titles are currently unknown on the GH album that is yet to be released, it's not certain whether WB has anything to do with it. Assuming that all tracks, remixes or extended versions, doesn't matter, are from the WB contracts then WB can do whatever they feel fit to do with the tracks. They don't need P's permission.

Before Musicology, prince released music via his own NPG Records label and through Arista (Rave album) and through Bellmark (The Most Beautiful Girl in the World) single. Before that he was with WB.

So Prince and WB don't share anything before 96, just WB. Does Prince get royalties?!

When did Prince leave WB? He was free 2 leave WB in 1996 once he delivered Chaos and Disorder and The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale, his 1st non WB album was Emancipation which was released on NPG records and distributed through EMI (Nov. 19 1996)

Why did he leave? He wanted 2 own his master recordings and release whatever he wanted and have a bigger share of the profits.

Does Prince Own the rights to all of his music? He owns the publishing, but not the master recordings.

Does WB own the rights to any of Prince's music? They own his master recordings, and can still release things he's previously recorded 4 them.

Is WB doing the new GH without his permission? Apparantly they sought his approval this time but I don't believe they did with The Very Best Of in 2001.

What label was Prince on before Musicology? Since leaving WB he's released everything thru NPG records, he did release 4 albums in conjunction with major labels 4 distribution and promotion, Emancipation (EMI), Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (Arista), Musicology (Columbia), and now 3121 (Universal)
[Edited 1/26/06 22:30pm]

"Does Prince Own the rights to all of his music? He owns the publishing, but not the master recordings. "


What does that mean!

He still gets royalties (since he owns his publishing), he just can't do whatever he wants with his old music, he can't release something again. in 2000 he wanted 2 release a collection of slow songs entitled When 2 R In Love, of some of his classic songs, but he couldn't since WB owns those recordings.
[Edited 1/26/06 22:20pm]

XVI said:

If you want to understand how legal rights work for musical works, then read some basic articles such as:

http://entertainment.hows...ntract.htm

http://people.howstuffwor...ion492.htm

http://www.wixenpolin.com...rights.htm

.
[Edited 1/28/06 0:18am]

sorry but what is GH? call me a plumb if its well known

oldpurple said:

Greatest Hits

DOH IM A PLUMB LOL

oldpurple said:

Or a peach?

Wow what was Prince thinking, was he stupid, or did he know he was signing this or what? PLese tell me more!

XVI said:

He got sucked in by a $100 million contract that wasn't really worth $100 million. Not the first musician to sign a bad deal, won't be the last.

Universaluv said:

That is all so true. but in a world where one feels that "bling" is it. Or "grillz" as it were most recently, the dangling carrot is a little too much of a temptation.

Universaluv said:

Getting contractually screwed in the music biz is a virtual prerequisite to being a good artist. Art and commerce mix like oil and water..

anything else

XVI said:

If you're interested you can read about his financial difficulties in the early 90's here.

http://princetext.tripod...._1995.html

He seems to have learned from it all.