If Prince signs a contract with a major chain to distribute an album, how are singles delivered to radio for airplay? Who's responsibility is that? Is such a deal in any way effective if one wants radio airplay?

Good question. I hope that this deal will finally get our boy back where he belongs: the Radio. I miss hearing new Prince music on the radio, for real. I'm praying for this to happen.

I know other artists who have signed exclusives with major chains have moved

some albums. I'm not sure though if singles off of those albums did anything at

radio.

I would love for as many people as possible to take in Prince's guitar-heavy

tracks. These would certainly then provide more demand for them to be played

live.

If Prince can muster a good radio friendly song, it will be there.
Nobody is "trying to keep the brother down" and it has nada to do with promotion.

If Prince were an un-heard, up-and-coming band, then yeah, he should be saving up some pay for play promotion money.

MJ, Madonna, Prince, Mariah and all other pop music icons do not need the blessings of some radio gate keeper or massive promotions to have their music introduced to the public. They are fortunate because of fame and little place called the internet.
[Edited 1/3/09 18:22pm]

Prince has had problems lately though getting airplay. "Black Sweat" should

have done better on the charts. And "Guitar" was radio-friendly enough. It's

almost as if he needs something really killer to get re-introduced to the

general public. Santana did it with "Smooth" a few years back. Radio could not

play that track enough.

Seventeen said:

EXACTLY! it has always been up to Prince, if he he had it in him.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Please, all he needs is connections. He has to be willing to do that "Payola" game and he'll be on the radio in no time. It's not about quality anymore when it comes to what's on the radio. Turn your radio on right now and you'll see what I mean.

LOL, hes been in the biz for for all his adult life, and been famous for most of his life, what more conections does he need!

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

One that'll get him back on the radio that's what he needs!

Radio, Pop contemporary radio has always been about youth. About demographics, advertising, all that stuff.
Prince is still played on the radio, usually on classic hits or oldies stations.

Prince has to use the radio to deliver his new music to a new generation, Crimson n Clover & Colonized Mind....are perfect examples of his new music, to reignite the public's purple interest...

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Exactly. That old shit gets played all the time. When it's time for the single to be released, I want to hear it on the regular. That would be so nice.

Prince could do the Payola thing with "connections", but what good is that?
If he's doing the kind of bussiness he's doing touring, which is where the money really is, why shell out money for payola?

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Cause we want to hear the new music on the radio that's why. It sucks ass but this is the reality of the radio today. I didn't make the rules, it just is.

Prince has a good thing going. Most musician would love to be in his position.
The hit songs, by whomever are a dime a dozen. Most become "where are they now?" personalities.
What Prince has is better,

put on your favorite "Planet Earth" song and pretend its on the radio, what's the diffrence?

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

I hear ya on that one but I would love to see one of his new songs become as big as the old ones. Something that everybody, young and old, will know. It probably won't happen but I can dream right?
[Edited 1/3/09 18:53pm]

C'mon guys, honestly. let be real for a minute.
Prince has to produce a song that will get youngsters or even oldsters buzzing with "Did you hear that new song by that Prince guy! it's badass!"
THAT is what will get Prince on the radio again. Good BUZZ, you can't really buy that.

He already did and it was called "Black Sweat". You see where that went. Mmm hmm.

And that was what got him where he is today. "Did you hear that Controversy song by song guy named Prince!"
You would hear evrey one put him down with "Ohh he's o gay", "he short" he's this or that, but his music cut through all the BS, Prince was not an easy guy to promote, but he made it because his music caused a buzz, because to this day he sells out stadiums not becasue of anything else but his music and the buzz it still creates

Black Sweat was ok

Most music artists would love to have a "hit" as big as "Black Sweat"

but it was ok, and it did as good or better than it should have.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Things were different in 1981 compared to now 28 yrs later. It could happen again but who knows.

i think i know how he will reach radio play..if he signed with a major retailer(lets say its wal-mart)the retailer will go to the radio stations that promote there stores(i can see clear channel on this) and issue the music as a major execusive...

Who gives a shit about the radio, its dead and in the process of being buried. Its all about satellite and internet radio now.

m
[Edited 1/3/09 19:13pm]

Whether its Elvis in the 50's, the Beatles in the 60's Fleetwood Mac in the 70's, Prince in the 80's, Nirvana in the 90's, ...and umm i cant think of anyone that really stood out in the 00's, but a great song is a great song regardless of when it was created. And as big a Prince fan that I am, I cant say that his current music classifies as great.

mwilli said:

That would be cool.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Great or not, Prince should be on the radio. That's how I feel about it.
[Edited 1/3/09 19:23pm]

purplecam said:

Fair enough, lol

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

It's all good