Imagine:

Prince decides to offer his new music as single-track downloads only (no physical CDs and no album structure anymore). Sort of like how Year One of the NPGMC was, but this would be his ONLY outlet for music instead of a supplemental outlet.

NO structure. It could be an unreleased song from Dirty Mind or something he just cooked up last night.

Would you still support him? This would be on a song-by-song basis; you would not be a "member" of anything.

I'm talking a few new songs or remixes a month, available in WAV/uncompressed format/equivalent (also available thru iTunes). NO part of this "hypothetical" involves MP3s or any other "lossy" format. For the sake of argument, we'll say that each song would be 1.99 due to the CD-quality of the download (as opposed to lower-quality current downloads).

Seems like it could work . . . let people buy what they want.

Yes. Good idea if done right.

But charging more than the competition...maybe not a good idea. MP3 is a good idea. It's what people listen to.
For the uncompressed file, price can be even higher that what you list but it will probably interest the remix guys most.

ONLY outlet? If so, there has to be something more. You can't take away the tangible completely. Maybe if he did them in series/collections/periods/moods whatever, and supplied a DIY download and print cover. Each series should also have a virtual component. And this can't be a way around videos. If they are produced for web only, that would be very cool because everyone, that's not playing them now, will want to. And he can tell them "No"...and since they won't have access to a broadcast copy, all the Entertainment Shows will have to show the web version...Lot's of fun potential there.

If there is no membership, there should be a "Prince Pass" (like a club card or the B&N card). This is a good way to encourage sales. I'm seeing now that the NPGMC is closed. Those that were members there, should automatically be given this pass. It shouldn't be required to enter the site but it should offer discounts to things on it.

Random downloads are good as long as there's some feeling of structure around them.


Oh, and occasional vinyl for the collectors would be cool too.

oh yes, i'm all for that idea. just release stuff and let people do
with it whatever they want.

however, i would like to have a bit of info on where the song came
from -new or an 80's outtake or something.

Anon:

Yes, there would definitely have to be a frequent-buyer's card or something like that. You download 10 tracks, you get 1 free.

What I meant with the Uncompressed is the option of downloading higher quality music for more money. MP3 will be made available.

Videos: Yes. Although it would be harder to get the Uncompressed original video file (downloading would be a nightmare!) but with the right setup and right bandwidth, it could work.


IstenSzek:

Artwork, production notes and lyrics would exist as "tags" to every song file.

Se7en said:

sign me up scotty!

it would infuriate me 2 no end.

i want packaging, credits... a real CD... a body of work.

I wouldn't be hearin' any new Prince music I guess.

Giovanni777 said:

I agree. There has to be, at least, the illusion of lines around the work. Even if there are 30 songs for a given period, and you only download 10, there should be one official piece of artwork that defines that period. It would also be good if the webpage architecture reinforced this...when looking at a given song, you should know by the layout that surrounds it, what period you're in.

It's easy to lose interest and/or become frustrated if it's too haphazard.

I'd be ALL FOR IT. Make the music club all about music and you'd have my full attention. Like Isten, I'd like some general info about when the songs were recorded and what, if any, project they were originally intended for, but I wouldn't care about artwork or physical CDs at all. All my music ends up on my iPod anyway...I can't tell you the last time I did anything with a CD besides ripping AAC files from it for use on my computers and iPod. Just make the music high-quality (minimum 192 kbps AAC files or 256 kbps mpe/wma files) and maybe even offer options for file format to please all members. A broadband, uncompressed format (aif or wav) would be a great option, espeically if it's just single-song downloads.

I don't need forums at the club, a reflection room or 3121 room that only plays music I already own. Anyone who ponies up money for an artist's online club has all that stuff already 99 out of 100 times.
[Edited 7/8/06 19:41pm]

I'll b happy 2 take it however Prince wants me 2 have it!!