I think 3121 has the potential to be big hit...BUT where the heck is the promotion??? It's due next week and no tv appearances set the week before, no commercials, and no magazine ads. The REAL fans know he has a new album coming out, but what about other music fans. He hasn't tried to reach them nor did Prince even promote his single Black Sweat on his SNL appearance. I don't think there is a label that knows how to promote him properly. Your thoughts please.

FIRST!

i agree, a far better and possibly more commercial album than Musicology! With tracks like "Love" "Black Sweat" and "The Word" this album deserves as much promotion as any.

Maybe Universal are relying on "Word of mouth promotion" which isn't good enough!

With 2 failed singles maybe they are already giving up on the album.

Viral marketing is a strong tool but you can't rely on that. There's so much out there today that it's hard to get anyone's attention. Also, you can't pay for that kind of thing...it happens on its own. You have to strike a chord with people to make them even send a link/clip to a friend.

Of course when he does the video for the org's favorite song "Incense and Candles", everyone will take note. But he has to let the chic flip the script and do the rap in that version. People are just getting used to the fact that he's a bible man so he's better cast as prey, this time around. Besides, that would be more fun to watch.

The best thing will be an insight into his creativity. Perhaps via a mini doc EPK kind of thing (that may be a part of a future feature length doc). But not EPKish...more real, laid back, low end in appearance and gritty (but still pretty).

People are still very interested but some need to be reminded.

if you happen to live in london there are about 20 12ft by 6ft posters in most central london underground stations...i guess thats whats known as marketing

if he made a really cool video... and had someone else really make it. Someone with their own vision....

and he would have to present himself in a "cool" way, with a "cool" look that wins over the masses.

i agree that the promotion for this album has been weak! But then, Prince isnt exactly promoting it to the limit. He could easily make this album sell by doing the talk shows etc but he just hasnt this time around.

Also, the record company havent pushed this one, the reason Black Sweat failed is because the record company didnt push it.

Imo its much easier to promote in the UK and Europe, if he came over here and did parkinson and jonathon ross the album would sky rocket, esp after his Brits performance.

They don't need to know about it. Prince needs to continue making music for "his" fans and let the others have their (c)rap.
.
.
[Edited 3/13/06 18:51pm]

he'll do ellen and the view, i'm sure. he'll probably do leno and letterman like always. he may do oprah...wasn't there talk about that on some universal press wishlist or something? they'll be some kind of vh1/mtv/bet 30 minute special. he'll be hitting promotion circuits soon enough.

who knows, maybe next week we'll get some last minute email from npgmc alerting us to an appearance that happened earlier that day.

Frederick96 said:

My God I thought I was the only one who was feeling this way! Musicology had more promotion for it a week before it came out than 3121 does now. How can it be big if there isn't any news or appearances planned? Prince and his crew needs to get it crackin NOW.

I hope VH1 or MTV can promote the album by doing a one-hour special on the 3121 album, showing Prince in the studio making the album and some special live performances. I saw two commercial ads for the album on BET, but except for that, nobody have been talking about it.

you know im new to this fan-site and although i think its brill and all that jazz, i find it hard to stomach those people who slag prince off, now ive been a massive fan over the last 20 years (purple rain) and my overall thought is that in the main prince delivers the goods, maybe its been a while since he made a class record, but in 3121 he sure has brought back some great memories.
people just chill out and enjoy the music, dont tell him where he went wrong and what he should have done, the doubters ! why do you even like prince if he no good and consistently lets you down.....in 3121 prince is back, dont care if the masses dont want to know, im grinning like a cheshire cat.

Black Sweat should be a big hit.

It's not because the promotion sucks. Not only that, the promoting material IE: Album cover, single cover are second rate Photoshop jobs. Not very good for someone who single handedly controlled pop culture in the 80's. I don't get it either.

TAC should be hidden from the public and never played again. Awful! Blahhewwwah!!!!!

Hopefully somebody will get their head out of their arses and get to work. I did notice all over San Francisco this week that they were posting bills everywhere. It's just that the promotion is soooo clean cut and safe. Pretty boring by Prince standards.

I have heard about 3/4's of the record and wasn't too impressed. Maybe they're being true to their craft and not promoting a record that's not worthy. Hopefully the record as a whole will produce the hype it needs, but I doubt it. Musicology did well because of fake sales records due to giving it away in the purchase price of a concert ticket. If he's not doing that I think we are going to see the true reflection of Prince's following.

The next couple weeks will be interesting.

Some people think the promotion is weak ?

The album comes out in one week...If you make promotion for an album, it should be available...Just relax....

And Prince doesn`t need a hit single to sell records...

Frederick96 said:

Let's wait and see what happens in the next few weeks.Perhaps Prince already has a few high-profile TV appearances all lined up? But as I pointed out in another thread,I don't think he is overly concerned with selling alot of records anymore.

blue4 said:

This place is full of 'haters' I guess they think that by bringing the man down they raise themselves up. 3121 is a wonderful slice of fun, enjoy.