sosgemini said:

without question, im a firm believer in turning the tables on these greedy executives. aimee and Ani deserve all the credit for being strong empowered women who have basically turned the tables on the industry.

sosgemini said:

Yeah, all umpteen thousand copies.

But, if you want to operate on a bigger scale, you either have to risk zillions in distribution infrastructure or piggyback off of someone else who has.

CJBabyDaddy said:

http://citybeat.com/2000-...over.shtml

i think your grossly underestimating how many albums they sell. as of 2000, difranco sold over 3 million cds...her popularity has only risen since then. i would take a guess she has sold at least 6 million.

but your right, thats such a small number...obviously prince's need for distribution is warranted...right.


removingsnarkyremoticontobenice
[Edited 7/15/07 12:35pm]

Who am I to say what right and wrong for the guy? With that said, it's probably not in Prince's best interest to start a truly independent label. Other than his own product, who would he sign? And who would actually be willing to sign with him? Prince's track record for finding new talent hasn't been good. He's worked with many talented people but his presence usually overshadows the music and the artist. Of course it would be Prince's right to pick and choose what his label releases, but in the long run his very own label wouldn't be a very good idea. Too many good artists would get lost in Prince's "passing fancy" modes. He's doing a stellar job with allowing the majors he chooses to distribute his work.
[Edited 7/15/07 12:53pm]

Prince never really was interested in a label. He probably founded Paisley Park 4 the same reasons he founded The Time & Vanity 6 in 1981:
1) - as a way 2 b able 2 release more music under false bands or protégés' names.
2)- 2 give the general public the feeling that Prince was part of a musical movement that's bigger than just him.
Apart from his own side projects, Prince never showed any interest in the artists & records that were produced by Paisley Park.

I think the last time Prince felt the need 4 this was in 1994 when he released 1-800 New Funk. Then he probably got bored with the whole concept (or realised he didn't need it anymore) & kept NPG 4 his own albums only (even Chaka & Larry's albums were Prince albums of sorts.)

As 4 signing with a major (or smaller distributors in the case of TRC or N.E.W.S.), it's just that it saves him from a lot of trouble. Manufacting, distributing & making the promo of an album needs not only a lot of $ but also a true infrastructure with lotsa employees working 4 the label. By doing it the way he does, Prince just makes it easier 4 him.

As 4 NPG Records remaining an existing label, well... it IS a company so it is technically a label with one single artist on its catalogue. But Prince could as well do it the way David Bowie or Beck do it, without a label. Just a question of choice but (p) & (c) NPG Records is more glam slam then (p) & (c) Prince
[Edited 7/15/07 15:19pm]

He has NPG ... but most of these labels (Bad Boy, G-Unit, Maverick etc.) are ... as Prince said on "the view" a sticker/logo they place on the CD. The big boys do all the printing, distributing and everything else. It is still a label... they all have their own label don't get me wrong and it is the BEST way to get paid (that is why EVERYONE has their own label) but it isn't highly looked at as it once was because every joker has one. The reason NPG isn't has big as Paisley Park or the ones out now is because he doesn't sign anyone. When he did sign folks it was only under his control (writing, dressing, singing etc.) and it only worked for the Purple Rain period. Now if he got a great team around him and started putting out some stuff...NPG would be nice.

Peace

Plus ... When you have a label or an unbrella of some sort you are pretected. No Limit records went under but Master P is doing fine and the same would go for Diddy and Bad Boy if soemthing happened. If something happens it is the NPG label going down not Prince.