Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2002 7:37 AM
Subject: NPGMC: Bootleggers R Not Fans

> BOOTLEGGERS R NOT FANS. THEY SELL UNAUTHORIZED STOLEN PROPERTY 2 FANS. There r numerous posts throut Paisley Park that in4m guests of their policies regarding illegally recording the events that r staged there. This policy applies as well 2 PRINCE and the NPG concerts thruout the world. MESSAGE 2 BOOTLEGGERS: LEAVE UR RECORDING EQUIPMENT AT HOME. ILLEGAL REPRODUCTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS PROHIBITED. PEACE
>
> Thank u 4 supporting NpgMusicClub.com.

I just sent the following message as a responce to NPGMC. All who feel the
same as I do, I urge you to send a similar responce.

...
...

Then ALLOW people to PURCHASE copies of the concerts they attend DIRECTLY
FROM PAISLEY PARK. Pearl Jam was able to do so, and it's not as if THOSE
individuals are exactly INOVATIVE. Untill YOU meet the demand, bootleggers
will continue to do so. It makes no rational financial sense not to do so,
while at the same time, complaining about people who do. There is a clearly
displayed market, a potential for making additional funds, whether you
choose to use that money for charity or income (let's not kid ourselves,
there is nothing wrong with making money), the possibilities for an
additional Paisley Park product with endless renewall are very evident.
Instead of claiming that bootleggers are not fans (Prince claims not to like
'fans' anyway), MANY OF THEM ARE FANS OF THE MUSIC - which is WHY they sell
these recording with HIGH quality artwork, for generally minimal costs. The
average new single disc bootleg is $16. The average double disc is $24. THAT
is value. The bootleggers costs of production would be higher than that of
Paisley Park, yet their charges are very reasonable: why? The general
philosophy as I have seen it, is that they simply want to LET THE MUSIC BE
HEARD by those who may not have been able to do so. This is not 1992, they
are not LARGE bootleg companies in Italy, charging $40 a disc anymore. Due
to business circumstances I was unable to attend the celebration this year,
and the idea that I could purchase it to hear Prince sing Empty Room, let a
fan sing Manic Monday, and play numerous other songs which I have never
heard performed is a wonderful thought. Regardless of that; as long as the
demand is not there because of negative reasons, there is really no reason
why it shouldn't be met... especially if it provides possible financial
gain for the artist releasing the product. This is not a complex form of
economics or marketing. Rather than looking to others first to see what they
can do to remedy your situation, and it really is your situation seeing as
it is you (or the company you represent) that has the problem, why not look
to yourself to see what you could do to possibly remedy the problem
indefinitely. If you are not taking steps to supply the demand, do not
complain: You aren't losing anything. If one is truely business savvy, they
would simply put out an open call saying that it isn't entirely financially
feasible to put every performance on CD to be sold enmass, but if someone,
or some individuals would be willing to take up partnership in it, by making
the artwork, pressing the cds, or even making the master, while Pasiley Park
simply supplied the source or recording, then all participating parties
split the profits - it would be far more cost effective, swift and
expedient for all involved. That would solve the problem of bootlegging
forever. There would NO MARKET for bootleggers. The 'official cds' would be
less expensive, as that format of production is EXTREMELY cost reducing, and
there would be no moral question of the ethicacy of purchasing the
recording.

If Prince put out an open call as I suggested , he would get an unbelievable amount of response, offering not only assistance, but FREE support.

---

"Are the same kids you compliment
The same ones that you were meant
To rob an education from
In a private school as opposed to one
That yearly spits out another group of fools
Into a system designed to fail
Wait a minute, I just got some e-mail
Somebody selling 12 CDs for a dollar"

P.R. Nelson '96