http://business.guardian.co.uk

Prince is launching his new Planet Earth album as a free giveaway with a national Sunday newspaper in a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from music retailers.

The 10-track CD will be available free with an "imminent" edition of the newspaper. Planet Earth will then go on sale on July 24.

"It's all about giving music for the masses and he believes in spreading the music he produces to as many people as possible," said Mail on Sunday managing director Stephen Miron.

"This is the biggest innovation in newspaper promotions in recent times."

The paper will be ramping up its print run in anticipation of a huge spike in circulation but would not reveal how much the deal with Prince would cost.

One music store executive described the plan as "madness" while others said it was a huge insult to an industry battling fierce competition from supermarkets and online stores.

Prince's label broke off ties in the UK with the album in a bid to appease music stores.

The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) said the giveaway "beggars belief".

"It would be an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career," ERA co-chairman Paul Quirk told a music conference.

"It would be yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music.

"The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores.

"And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday." High street music giant HMV was similarly scathing about the plans. Speaking before rumours of a giveaway were confirmed, HMV chief executive Simon Fox said: "I think it would be absolutely nuts."

"I can't believe the music industry would do it to itself. I simply can't believe it would happen, it would be absolute madness."

Prince, whose Purple Rain sold more than 11m copies, also plans to give away a free copy of his latest album with each ticket sold for his upcoming string of concerts in London.

The singer had signed a global deal as well for the promotion and distribution of Planet Earth in partnership with Columbia Records, a division of music company Sony BMG.

A spokesman for the group said tonight that the UK arm of Sony BMG had withdrawn from Prince's global deal and would not be distributing the album to UK stores.

"We think it is the right thing to do in the difficult retail market," he said. "We are delighted Prince has come back to a major label but this makes sense for the UK."

The Mail on Sunday, owned by Associated Newspapers, has built up a reputation for music giveaways and this is not the first time it has drawn harsh criticism.

It most recently clashed with musician Mike Oldfield over the giveaway of his album Tubular Bells.

Still, the paper maintains that its covermount CDs of artists such as Simply Red, Madness and Dolly Parton stimulate interest in music and it has asked retailers to look at partnerships.

"The Mail on Sunday is the biggest distributor of albums in this country," said Mr Miron. "We are saying to retailers we would be happy to engage in dialogue."

Copyright Guardian News and Media Limited
[Edited 6/28/07 13:09pm]

I am sure all the old aged pensioners, who go down on Sunday mornings 2 the local news-stands for their Mail On Sundays are gonna b happy with a free copy of Planet Earth!!!!!

They can listen 2 it over their Sunday morning fry-ups!!!!
[Edited 6/28/07 13:46pm]

Desire2006 said:

So which Sunday will have it. If before the worldwide release it must be either this Sunday which is very very doubtful, or maybe the 8th or likely the 15th, but by then some European countries will have it and also I believe Australia.

I'm on Holiday on the 8th which means I'll be out of the country unable to get a copy. I'll be back by the 15th so hopefully it's then.

Also it just seems absurd not to have it in the shops at all, What if some casual fans want it and don't even know about the paper release,and then where are they left.

This is just stupid. Why didn't he have maybe 3 or four tracks from the album and a few Live songs, that would have been great promotion.

talk about six degrees...susannah melvoin is featured on tubular bells.

The entire point of it all is that the music industry, as we know it, is dead...
Now its time to wake up and see the full potential of what can be done.

To any artist who is reading this: "You don't have to go down on your knees in
an office somewhere to make a record anymore"
(c) John Lennon 1968

You can go directly to the consumer and if they have a taste of it and want more, they'll want to go out and get the real deal that, when purchased and put into the CPU, will give the rest of the experience!

Therein, is a brilliant marketing stroke....
[Edited 6/28/07 16:53pm]

I think hard copy CDs r definitely becoming a thing of the past.
Even after the dawning of the computer/file sharing age, die hard fans/completists etc would go out and buy the CD after having dl it, simply 4 the picture sleeve, credits etc (lyrics r a thing of the past and just as easy 2 access online), or any other gimmick tied in with it.
As a long time Prince fan, am I moved 2 seek out a hard copy CD just 2 have a picture of him dressed in drag in glossy 4mat as soon as it's released, only 2 shelve it after ripping it 2 mp3 4mat 2 suit current media players?

Haha let them complain all they want, I kinda like the idea. More power to Prince for doing whatever the fuck he wants (or so it seems).

Forgetting record sales and the politics of it all...

This must surely be a Prince fan's dream? A new Prince CD given away before its supposed release date and for free if you buy a newspaper for £1.40.
This'll be the most wonderfully perverse initial release for a new Prince album that I've ever bought.

Yeah boy! Do you!

Greed is not a good thing. Prince really changed up his game a few years back with Musicology. These stunts keep his name in the press and keep people talking about Prince. Building up his fan base!!

I agree with giveaways, while trying to make money in other ways. For every 50 downloads or giveaway..you will fight to get one sale. So your left with an opportunity to reach the masses with giveaways of the actual cd and try to bring in some new fans on board or deaf ears. Bring in the right newbees and they will go back and buy all your old product, and go to P's shows. It's all about keeping a large fan base.

Not sure if the shows he is playing over in the UK will somehow factor in? Ya know, the record company will get a cut from the 20 cent disc given away at the shows?

The money still means a lot to Prince but getting the new music to the public seems like another high priority. I think it's cool because when the audience knows the new shit he ain't stuck playing just the old music.
[Edited 6/28/07 17:47pm]

I think this idea is great and it shows once again P is in control,this move shows his condemnation for the music industry, at least in the conventional sense. As he pointed out many years ago the music biz has changed and not for the better for most artists. P surprises us and the industry as a whole. Good 4 U P!
[Edited 6/28/07 17:25pm]

God I love Prince. Just when you think you've got things figured out, he does something completely off the wall. The enigma is well at work!

personally, i don't think Prince has anything more to prove.

The money is made in the touring, and will be from now on..there's no money in selling cd's.

I imagine he has more than enough money to keep him in a comfortable lifestyle, so this is really for his fans..

Moonbeam said:

so this is for sure?

Shhh747 said:

It appears that way. Other threads popped up saying that Planet Earth had been "deleted" by several UK online outlets. Then there were the rumors of the newspaper giveaway. Now there are the articles supporting it.

I love Prince!

Haystack said:

Question for music biz insiders: Would Prince have to have permission from Sony to release the album this way ?

its mad, its perverse...yet i love it!! How many artists would actually have the balls to do that?? It's a total "fuck you" to all the wrongs of the music industry.

First Paul signs with Starbucks, now Prince gives away CDs with newspapers..hopefully these show current artists that first and foremost, it's all about the music

I LOVE PRINCE!XXX
[Edited 6/29/07 16:17pm]

euro bitches better be sharing the love with that!

Desire2006 said:

Listen to it while munching on a Bap!

Well, I am suprised.

Nice move from the skinny mutha fooka with the high voice!

All hail Partyman!

muleFunk said:

From the reaction of the label, it doesn't appear Prince needed permission... since they were caught by surprise from it.

Which would seem to indicate that Prince's deal w/ the label has very little strings attached, indeed. He can apparently do whatever the heck he wants, which is pretty darn cool. He deals w/ the labels on HIS terms these days.

So sorry to all of you in the UK... but how come when prince has concerts in the uk the tickets are about under 100$ and when he comes to LA theyre over $1000? And we dont get free CD's in the New York Times.... AND he is scheduled to appear on the UK Big Brother... hmmm

Rightly said:

omg, ur avatar i so scary.

... oh, and a to Prince... but only if he does it here in the States as well.

newskin69 said:

I agree. I love this kind of stuff. Prince, you gotta love him!

g3121 said:

Prince got screwed with his relationship with Warner Brothers. He lost some of his control which is probably why he started writing the word "slave" on his face the last couple of albums under contract with them. When he was finally released from WB he was on a mission to have full total control with his music AND it's distribution (Crystal Ball through NPGMC). This was revolutionary for an A list artist such as himself.
I believe Prince is willing to try other innovative ways to get his message and music out without letting the "white shirts" at the record companies get a cut of the money, especially when many of them have absolutly NOTHING to do with the creation of the projects. Prince is giving the record companies a big slap in the face with this move...more power to him!

Who is John Galt?