You're right. Madonna without the old AOL/TimeWarner/CNN machine would be Hung Up and out to dry by now. Video's cost money. Reviewers like expensive lunches, Dj's are like hooker (play whatever you want for the money) all those special Madonna-thons on radio/tv were paid commercials.... You can hardly tell what is fan driven and what is executive office driven these days.

Prince just wanted to use the machine to deliver his product for a change, where other artists are slaves to the machine and would get no where without it.

newpower99 said:

And that's all that needs to be said.

TonyVanDam said:

You have answered your own question. 3121 and Musicology is better music thats why. I would not have promoted Rave if I had it.

Sounds to me like he applyed for a job at Universial Records and was turned down.

MickG said:

I know right, I still don't get the point of this thread.

wonder505 said:

'


Amen

Romera said:

oh yes they do..they pay for prominant placing of the cds in store..they paid for song rotation at tower records (which was blasting some of the tunes a couple days prior to the release)....

stuff like that does help increase an albums numbers....

Well, I can't say if I agree, because I can't get past the cynnical feeling of your email. And besides, what's wrong with them promoting Prince as much as they do their mainstream rap artists? If the end result is that Prince sells more records, then good. Can't be mad at that.

sosgemini said:

I've seen no prominent placing of the CDs in stores here. I've not heard any 3121 songs on the radio here and I still don't know of any non-hardcore fans that bought the album from the so-called promotion by Universal.

Looks like he's forged a good relationship with the record company but I doubt they've been instrumental in the predominantly positive critical notice. I think the Musicology Tour really did a lot to get people back to recognising Prince's ability as a musician. Most folks were blown away, they've seen good reviews for the album, they wanna hear it. I don't know how well it will sustain without a radio hit or a video in high rotation or a tour but I guess we'll see.

Romera said:

i think its a combination of good music, good buzz, good reviews and good product placement by Universal..this beast had three rows at Target....it was on a kiosk of its own at Tower as soon as you walk in...

so i guess im agreeing with mynameisnotsusan's post above.

during the time i was in new york last weekend...and i visited a LOT of wrecka stows...i didn't see any special kiosks or displays for 3121. i saw some posters out on the street, which is cool i guess, but i didn't see a lot of special display stuff. for whatever that's worth.

Anx said:

Universal's promotion of this album sucks.

They didn't even have the purple ticket contest rules up until the last minute and the rules about the mail in part were not clear enough.

Romera said:

to be fair, most of the stores i went to were indie/specialty shops, but i did go to my fair share of chain stores, and no dice.

PurpleCharm said:

POOK said:

including the concert sales?

In the UK, I can see there has been a big push. Prince stormed the Brits, the media reaction has been extremely positive (brilliant to see The Sun rip into Prince before The Brits and then proclaim him as the best performance afterwards! ).

I haven't seen a TV ad for a Prince album years and suddenly they keep popping up. HMV suddenly brought out all the old Prince albums on their post stands a few weeks in advance of 3121 being released.

Highest anticipation in the UK for years and I believe Universal have played a big part in this.

This is the right way for Prince to get back in the public eye - rather than just us hardcore fans.

It also helps that 3121 is a great album (IMO).

Apart from the posters on the underground there's been really very little promotion in the UK. The same i'd imagine with the rest of Europe.

If you want to know what Universal has done to promote, you have to play connect the dots among the subsidiaries.

SNL "Fury" performance (aired 2x) - Universal is partnered with NBC (hence NBC Universal)

"Sign O' The Times" (the movie) was dusted off and played on Showtime a week before 3121 was released - Showtime Networks International operates and manages ventures with NBC Universal

3121 TV ads - Obviously, Universal paid/placed these

The list goes on... Universal is also involved in Loews Theaters (Loews Universal). If there is a 3121 movie... you can guess where it will be distributed/played.

So if Universal WAS NOT involved and there WAS NO purple ticket contest....It STILL wouldve sold 184,000 copies???

yeh right

Fact is: The record will soon fall out of the top 10. I don't know any person that bought this record as a non-die-hard-prince fan.

The 185 thousand units were bought by his loyal supporters.

He don't have new fans, that is a fact...i don't like it, but that is reality....
[Edited 4/3/06 14:31pm]

tainacher said:

a reality in your head.

Other Real Reasons 3121 debuted at no 1

Besides Prince fans just buying copy after copy desperately trying to find a purple ticket and Universal somehow making people buy the album plus the fact it was a slow week on the chart, I've found these other reasons 3121 did well in its first week :

1. Some fanatical women threatened to withold sex unless their men bought 3121.
2. Some fanatical men threatened to withold sex from their men, but that didn't work as well.
3. Paris Hilton got all of her gentlemen callers to buy the record you don't want to know how.
4. Fanatical mothers promised to take their teenagers to fast food chains all week if they would also buy the record.
6. Fanatical grandsons told their grandmas it was the new album by Prince Williams.
7. Some fam fatales stood next to the 3121 displays in fishnet stockings and lingerie, mouthing the 3121 chorus to any male customer that went by
[Edited 4/3/06 14:44pm]

TonyVanDam said:

so Michael Jackson should release an album on Universal soon? " Im invincible, normal and innocent" it would debut at #1!!!

jn2 said:

No. I believe this is the reality. he is number one NOW, but not in 2 or three weeks.

Do you believe, this record will appeal to a "new" audience? I don't think so.
That is the reason why he doesent sell really lots of records over a few weeks.
The first week sells reflect his loyal fan base.

I've never debuted at #1 in anything .
Can anybody supply me with Universal's number?

jn2 said:

yep. At least the first week, he would be on top. loyal fanbase.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I love you woman