Prince Links With Verizon For New Single
Prince
http://www.billboard.com/...1003592384
May 31, 2007, 2:40 PM ET

Antony Bruno, Denver
Verizon Wireless has nabbed the exclusive for "Guitar," the first single from Prince's upcoming album "Planet Earth," scheduled to be released sometime in July. The single will be available for free to any Verizon subscriber who participates in an online demo of its new Song ID music identification service.

After releasing his 2006 album, "3121," through Universal, Prince is presently without a label to market or distribute "Planet Earth." Instead, he is relying on Verizon to generate awareness.

"There is no music label involved here," says Verizon senior VP of marketing and digital media John Harrobin. "That enabled us to work very closely together." The only way fans can get the single is to try the Song ID demo, which will be available on Verizon's website, as well as online video outlets like YouTube, Revver and MySpace.

The demo consists of a clip of the music video for the single and a prompt for subscribers to hold their phone to the computer speaker to ID the song. Once identified, users can then download the song in a single click. Verizon will promote the campaign in a TV ad that begins airing tonight (May 31) featuring both the artist and the music video.

As previously reported, Prince will be busy on stage this summer, and is also about to launch his own fragrance, also called 3121.
[Edited 5/31/07 15:28pm]

there's gonna be a TV ad!!!!! somebody better record it!!!!!

Busy days again with the man Almost hard to stay on top when he is flying hi everywhere these days, hehe.

It has to take a artist of his caliber to continue and be able to pull of the non signed releases he does. Finaly someone who understands that the future of music is NOT under a contract with a big company if you wanna be creativ and keep the ART in the music. I will for shure go other ways with my music, and use the tecnology of the nett.

Anyone else feels the freshness and old time madness from the man too? I shure do

Hope he gets the attention he deserves!
[Edited 5/31/07 15:56pm]

Sorry

Based on your PC's network address, it appears that your PC is outside the United States.
The V CAST Music service is only available to Verizon Wireless customers in the United States.

And you have to have a PC. No Mac option.

Nooooo! Hope there is plans for the rest of us then.....

Genesia said:

Everyone has a PC.... its called the PC mussle.....( just trying to get the disapointments of us "others" less with some bad humor... )
[Edited 5/31/07 16:02pm]

tznekbsbfrvr said:

I already saw the TV ad from verizon! i must be the first one to see it

Its the guitar video and tells u how to get the song for free for verizon customers!

Masterfreak said:

this is what it's all about.

asg said:

Cool! Do you remember if it was a cable channel or broadcast network?

Anxiety said:

On the contrary, many artists have managed to establish long term, rewarding relationships with record companies without resorting to writing 'Slave' on their face, or badmouthing label execs when sales don't meet their expectations.
[Edited 5/31/07 16:39pm]

viewaskew said:

that's fine and well if it suits certain artists, but what's wrong with other artists trying different routes?

Are there no audiophiles left?

=

=

Genesia said:

Umm, you mean you have to run Windows, right? Because new Macs can run Windows in Dual Boot mode.

squirrelgrease said:

Amen

Later

squirrelgrease said:

I'd prefer less downloads and more real in-hand music.

and WTF is this "hold your phone up to your PC to get this song for free" shit?!?!?!? I'd much rather drive my ass the wrecka stow and buy a CD single.
[Edited 5/31/07 18:20pm]

paisley16 said:

me too

paisley16 said:

it's cutting edge technology!!!!

the PHONE KNOWS!

FruitToAttractBears said:

but I would believe it's cutting edge if the phone gave me a CD (ya know, caused it to spit out of my CD drive or something ) and not low quality MP3 crap but the real thing, cover/liner notes and all. Now, THAT would be cool!!!

viewaskew said:

-----
Sorry but sales are not meeting anyone's expectations right now and you can bet artist are complaining they are just not doing it out in public. You may find some of P's actions over the top but, look around 10 years after the slave era and he was right about a few things that are wrong in the industry.

Anxiety said:

-----
Nothing is wrong with artist trying different routes. Some people refuse to except that things have changed in the industry and P saw it coming.

paisley16 said:

I just did that and totally felt like a dork. My daughter asked what I was doing. I'm like, "Ah, ummm... computer stuff."

She want's me to shake a leg so she can play her Dora
CD-Rom.

squirrelgrease said:

Exactly! I was thinking how many Prince fans are out there looking like big idiots right about now- and was about to do it myself, but got sidetracked. I did grab the ringtone though .
So- is it worth doing, did it work, how does it sound??? From what I'm reading, I'll get the new version of the song when the CD comes out....aw, what am I asking for, you know I'm about to try it, ! (of course, everyone's asleep here in my house now, so no one will see my foolishness )

paisley16 said:

I guess you can download it to your PC, but you gotta install their proprietary software. I downloaded it, but haven't installed it yet. It works hand-in-hand with Windows Media Player, so I'm gonna back up some DRM material before I mess with it and possibly lose any licenses.

They had to make us work for that "free" track.

Ok i just downloaded the whole track.
Much better than the original and the guitar work is great.
New intro is cool and the voice is nice and clear.
I like it but i'm certainly not blown away.

Serena said:

can someone record it? chances are I won't see it...it might be on YouTube tomorrow.

tznekbsbfrvr said:

Damn I haven't had my TV on most of today. I probably missed it a couple of times.

shaedove99 said:

yeah, I missed it too-on ET anyway. ONE day out of a week I didn't turn my pc on, and this comes up! Was on the phone with a friend, and she's like "oh look Prince on ET". Luckily she has TIVO so recorded it so I can see it next time I'm there. Of course then I came here to get the details. Haven't really been watching for the actual commercial yet.

Maybe I should start staying offline more often. Last time I missed a day, the announcement about LA and the perfume was up when I came back...Guess it's like trying to watch water boil.

laurarichardson said:

Sorry, actually no, I'm not, but Prince's sales aren't exactly through the roof either.

For all the mistakes Prince has made, it's nice to see he's right about something, although pointing out that there are problems in the music industry is hardly original.