Someone told me that there are some very dedicated bootleg labels. Just wondering, with Prince's strong legal actions, how can they actually exist? Are there "headquarters" with staff? Legal distribution networks? Do they pay taxes What is the profit margin? How many CDs are produced of a new title?...

No worries, I am not trying to start a new business on the dark side, just very curious and wondering, because it seems that this is a somehow an "organized" business.

Any info or links to info appreciated

PS: Hope this post is not against any org. rules

Prince can't touch the out of country labels. Most are next to impossible to locate. And most of all it would take a small mountain of cash to really shut them down.

Xactly. None of these "labels" r official companies nor legal in any ways & nobody knows who holds them.

Historically, xceptions occured in Italia in the 80's until the mid-90's, because italian copyright laws were not clear. There were compagnies who "legally" (at least in Italia) produced bootlegs of all kind of artists & u could read these companies'adress & phone number on the records jackets. This was ended when the European Union had all of its countries 2 agree on common copyright laws.

Also, though it was illegal, many record stores (including huge ones such as Virgin) used 2 sell bootlegs at the same time. This also was ended in most Europpen countries in the mid 90's. I don't know how it is in the USA.

yeah,I'm amazed that many of these bootleg labels exist.One of them in particular has an amazing,extensive "catalog" that contains nearly every Prince bootleg imaginable.

How do they get their hands on all these live recordings and studio tracks?If its not done from the inside it can't get to the outside is the only thing I could ever think of-either Prince has people constantly around him thru the years that can't be trusted or its the man himself allowing it.

There aren't really many left these days, certainly not like in the late 80s/early-mid 90s.

The internet has a lot to answer for!

NouveauDance said:

Sabotage isn't around anymore from what I hear...

NouveauDance said:

Doesn't help that people sell those cd-r bootlegs on Ebay. Not saying I didn't buy 'em back in the day, but come on.

u2prnce said:

u2prnce said:

Currently a matter of opinion.

u2prnce said:

Neither is Thunderball.

The worst was Ladybird...they rip off the bootleggers.

langebleu said:

Um, I have a 'contact' shall we say, who told me this. Why would it be a matter of opinion?

u2prnce said:

That other contacts have said the label survives.

We'll see ...

Message from the Data Bank...Re: Boots for 2005

Listings : 2005

As of early 2006 there are still no recordings widely circulating from 2005. The first year in Prince's career since 1980 this has been the case...unfortunately.

^
The message posted on TheDataBank refers to live shows from 2005 - i.e. there are no circulating live recordings from any of the (few) performances of that year.

thebumpsquad said:

doesn't it refer to all boots in general? live and outtakes?

I'm gonna cry while I think about the remastered City Lights which may never come out. It's been awhile since we had a James Bond film inspire a bootleg company. I suggest Goldfinger.

superspaceboy said:

you can't rip off bootleggers, there are no rules in bootlegging. That's what makes it cool!


[Edited 4/18/06 12:31pm]

u2prnce said:

Octopussy (Control)
Diamonds (and Pearls) Are Forever

BorisFishpaw said:

Someone who got the reference.

u2prnce said:

C'mon don't exagerate. The original releases sound quality already is EXCELLENT. What more do u want?

At this rate people r gonna want remasters of Musicology & 3121 2 b released in 2007. 4 chrissake, i'm a hi-fi lover 2, but this remastering hysteria makes no sens

ufoclub said:

Yeah, but if you ARE going to steal stolen goods, you might as well do a little something to make it seem like it's yours...instead of making it worse.

superspaceboy said:

Well, has he done a single concert in 2005?

calldapplwondery83 said:

He didn't play much anyway... There was no tour.

calldapplwondery83 said:

Just the 3121 parties he had at his house.

NouveauDance said:

So true, I notice most of them are (or were) in Europe (Italy is one)