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Thread started 07/15/07 9:40am

redlobster83

Why hasn't Prince started his own record label?

http://www.macrumors.com/...d-beyonce/

So I was looking at this piece of news today and wondered why Prince never started his own label instead of signing for each one of his new albums? It seems that a lot of artists do this nowadays.

Any ideas on this?
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Reply #1 posted 07/15/07 9:41am

emesem

A couple of millions of $$$s in advances is your answer.
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Reply #2 posted 07/15/07 9:46am

VonMarie

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He did at one point have his own record label back in the 80's. It was called Paisley Park.
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Reply #3 posted 07/15/07 9:48am

mplsmike

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He's too cheap when it comes to him being independit
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #4 posted 07/15/07 9:54am

georgeguitar

VonMarie said:

He did at one point have his own record label back in the 80's. It was called Paisley Park.



is Parade not on paisley park records, or am i makeing that up?
"Im Too Funky To Sleep With Myself"
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Reply #5 posted 07/15/07 9:55am

sosgemini

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mplsmike said:

He's too cheap when it comes to him being independit


i wouldn't even say cheap...i'd say lazy.

this is just one example of those who have fought the fight and already won:

http://www.unitedmusician...index.html

UNITED MUSICIANS

UNITED MUSICIANS is founded on the principle that every artist should be able to retain copyright ownership of the work he or she has created and that this ownership is the basis for artistic strength and true independence.

United Musicians Artists have their own labels under the United Musicians banner and retain all rights of ownership to their work. By uniting and sharing resources, United Musicians Artists have a stronger organizational base from which to build and flourish in their independence.

History
Artists Aimee Mann, Michael Penn and their manager Michael Hausman formed United Musicians during the independent release of Aimee's album "Bachelor No. 2." Together, they saw the obstacles that faced a single artist label in a world of multinationals. They imagined a group of artists joining together to provide a level playing field, create a recognizable brand and ethos that would attract like-minded artists and music lovers while allowing the artists to retain control of their work.
Space for sale...
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Reply #6 posted 07/15/07 10:07am

mplsmike

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sosgemini said:

i wouldn't even say cheap...i'd say lazy.

i do agree he is....

Example of how cheap he is The Cystal Ball Cds
He wouldnt even print the cds untill it was somewhere near 100,000 sold
This was his independit (The Truth - Xperemnt)
And at then they came in a cheap case no cover no nothing
They say they wanted it to feel and look like an bootleg...
But i seen better packaged bootlegs than that....
Now that was lazy and cheap
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #7 posted 07/15/07 10:09am

Justin1972UK

NPG Records is a record label, isn't it? confused
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Reply #8 posted 07/15/07 10:14am

VonMarie

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What R U guys talking about with him being "cheap" and "lazy"? The guy has done the whole record label thing! Check this out!
http://www.answers.com/to...rk-records
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Reply #9 posted 07/15/07 10:15am

emesem

Right.. Annie Difranco is another good example.

Right now he is basically running his own label. He records the record but then goes to the labels after its done to extract money upfront and they distribute for a fee. I don't understand how they deal with singles and promotion but perhaps part of the deal is we'll press and distribute your album and we'll pay you some $ upfront AND promote the singles to radio.

The labels must walk away with something or else they wouldn't comeback for more. (although I think Columbia is the only label that has done this deal twice with him). For the labels is a low cost (if the advance is not too crazy) way to get a few more units out the door. They make a small profit on distribution and manufacturing.

The way this differs from a traditional record deal is that the label is not involved in song picking, choosing producers and funding the costs for recording, video production, heavy radio promotion, MTV promotion, concert promotion etc....

The one off model only works with someone like prince. Superstar, established, able to make his own press and with a core fan base. Others like Pearl Jam have explored it but usually end up opting for big, fat, more traditional record deals.
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Reply #10 posted 07/15/07 10:23am

mplsmike

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VonMarie said:

What R U guys talking about with him being "cheap" and "lazy"? The guy has done the whole record label thing! Check this out!


I think the question is ....
Why dont he make his own label Now instead of signing for each one of his new albums

He doesnt want to put time (lazy) & money (cheap) into it
This is just my opinion
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #11 posted 07/15/07 10:29am

sosgemini

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emesem said:

Right.. Annie Difranco is another good example.

Right now he is basically running his own label. He records the record but then goes to the labels after its done to extract money upfront and they distribute for a fee. I don't understand how they deal with singles and promotion but perhaps part of the deal is we'll press and distribute your album and we'll pay you some $ upfront AND promote the singles to radio.

The labels must walk away with something or else they wouldn't comeback for more. (although I think Columbia is the only label that has done this deal twice with him). For the labels is a low cost (if the advance is not too crazy) way to get a few more units out the door. They make a small profit on distribution and manufacturing.

The way this differs from a traditional record deal is that the label is not involved in song picking, choosing producers and funding the costs for recording, video production, heavy radio promotion, MTV promotion, concert promotion etc....

The one off model only works with someone like prince. Superstar, established, able to make his own press and with a core fan base. Others like Pearl Jam have explored it but usually end up opting for big, fat, more traditional record deals.


...and that's why i don't buy into this whole, "prince is doing this to fight the system", argument. no, he is doing this because he is a celebrity and can...

ani difranco and aimee mann and many others are proving that you don't need label support at all to be a successful (and wealthy) musician...difranco is a greater example because she didn't even have prior success like mann did.
Space for sale...
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Reply #12 posted 07/15/07 10:30am

VonMarie

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mplsmike said:

VonMarie said:

What R U guys talking about with him being "cheap" and "lazy"? The guy has done the whole record label thing! Check this out!


I think the question is ....
Why dont he make his own label Now instead of signing for each one of his new albums

He doesnt want to put time (lazy) & money (cheap) into it
This is just my opinion

Oh...I gotcha! You're right! I also think that because he got burned with his last long term record label contract...he doesn't want to find hinself in that situation again. He wants FULL control, by any means necessary is how I see it.
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Reply #13 posted 07/15/07 10:40am

mplsmike

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yeah..he doesnt have to have his own labe to put out recoerds.
The guy is smart..

i think some of us wish he did,this way mabye he put out more music, albums..
like he hinted too years ago..but thats just prince 4 U..
4 ever changing his mind
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #14 posted 07/15/07 10:43am

Justin1972UK

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Reply #15 posted 07/15/07 10:48am

mplsmike

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Justin1972UK said:

Hello???

confused



yes justin its ok comfort
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #16 posted 07/15/07 10:51am

Justin1972UK

mplsmike said:

justin its ok comfort


But NPG Records is a record company, isn't it? Just because it doesn't physically produce, distribute and market CDs, doesn't mean it's not a record company.
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Reply #17 posted 07/15/07 10:53am

sosgemini

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Justin1972UK said:

mplsmike said:

justin its ok comfort


But NPG Records is a record company, isn't it? Just because it doesn't physically produce, distribute and market CDs, doesn't mean it's not a record company.


correct...but each time he releases an album he has to re-invent the wheel and sign a contract with another studio to get the album in the record stores...thats not really a self-contained entity like the other examples given.
Space for sale...
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Reply #18 posted 07/15/07 10:56am

mplsmike

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yeah we all know that justin... lol
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #19 posted 07/15/07 10:56am

IAintTheOne

sosgemini said:

Justin1972UK said:



But NPG Records is a record company, isn't it? Just because it doesn't physically produce, distribute and market CDs, doesn't mean it's not a record company.


correct...but each time he releases an album he has to re-invent the wheel and sign a contract with another studio to get the album in the record stores...thats not really a self-contained entity like the other examples given.


NPG Records is an independent label that is his, and he uses major labels to distribute the product this is what is called a "P and D" deal meaning Prince gets the lion's share of the profit and the label gets a small percentage for distribution. and in no way does the major label own the rights or masters to the recording, it is solely owned by the artist.
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Reply #20 posted 07/15/07 10:58am

Justin1972UK

sosgemini said:

correct...but each time he releases an album he has to re-invent the wheel and sign a contract with another studio to get the album in the record stores...thats not really a self-contained entity like the other examples given.


So... Is Madonna's Maverick Records not a record company either? I know that its products are exclusively produced, distributed and marketed by Warner Bros., but it still doesn't actually physically manufacture CDs itself.

The back of the Mail On Sunday's promo CD, says (c)2007 NPG RECORDS. There's no other record company's name on the sleeve.
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Reply #21 posted 07/15/07 10:58am

adorable2

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Yeah P is using major record labels for distribution these days... U never know though this may be the last time he does this...
I'm an org elitist... totally unapproachable.

www.myspace.com/prinsexed
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Reply #22 posted 07/15/07 11:01am

mplsmike

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Even if your independit u sill need some 1 to manifacture your cds
the cover might not have the name ..but the Mfg might be printed on the bottom of the cd
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #23 posted 07/15/07 11:06am

sosgemini

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IAintTheOne said:

sosgemini said:



correct...but each time he releases an album he has to re-invent the wheel and sign a contract with another studio to get the album in the record stores...thats not really a self-contained entity like the other examples given.


NPG Records is an independent label that is his, and he uses major labels to distribute the product this is what is called a "P and D" deal meaning Prince gets the lion's share of the profit and the label gets a small percentage for distribution. and in no way does the major label own the rights or masters to the recording, it is solely owned by the artist.



agreed...but mann and difranco handle their own distribution.
Space for sale...
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Reply #24 posted 07/15/07 11:08am

mplsmike

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Yes NPG ,Maverick are Records Labels - companys


I was mostly the one saying hes to cheap to do it the independet way

Go to the record store and ask 4 2002's ONA (solo album) on NPG records
(doubt your gonna find it)
Love Life,
Love God,
And Only Do Drugs You Need
smoker

... wave
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Reply #25 posted 07/15/07 11:12am

IAintTheOne

sosgemini said:

IAintTheOne said:



NPG Records is an independent label that is his, and he uses major labels to distribute the product this is what is called a "P and D" deal meaning Prince gets the lion's share of the profit and the label gets a small percentage for distribution. and in no way does the major label own the rights or masters to the recording, it is solely owned by the artist.



agreed...but mann and difranco handle their own distribution.

yes,yes they do i never said Prince was the smartest man in the world when it comes to his distribution LOL
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Reply #26 posted 07/15/07 11:16am

emesem

Paisley Park, NPG, Maverick etc..are basically "vanity" labels. A label has real people actually working at it, finding new music, signing acts, recording music, distributing and promoting etc...NPG is probably just a shell company through which Prince does his annual P&D deals through.

(Maverick may have been close to being a "real" label, much more than PP every came to being, but i think now its just folded in to the rest of WB.)
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Reply #27 posted 07/15/07 11:17am

sosgemini

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IAintTheOne said:

sosgemini said:




agreed...but mann and difranco handle their own distribution.

yes,yes they do i never said Prince was the smartest man in the world when it comes to his distribution LOL


cha know, i just realized that we have two strong woman who are leading the charge for musicians. and difranco truly is the pioneer...the one who should get all the credit in the history books.
Space for sale...
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Reply #28 posted 07/15/07 11:20am

Justin1972UK

emesem said:

Maverick may have been close to being a "real" label, much more than PP every came to being, but i think now its just folded in to the rest of WB.


Oh. I didn't know that.

How can NPG Records be a "vanity label" though? It evidently isn't bankrolled by another major record company.
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Reply #29 posted 07/15/07 11:24am

emesem

Justin1972UK said:

emesem said:

Maverick may have been close to being a "real" label, much more than PP every came to being, but i think now its just folded in to the rest of WB.


Oh. I didn't know that.

How can NPG Records be a "vanity label" though? It evidently isn't bankrolled by another major record company.



Yeah you are right. you know what I mean, tho.
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