Has Prince broken down his fanbase for CD's sales into Global Marketing Areas?

As he no long works with labels directly, is this the new stratergy for selling?
Using the US stores like Target and then in Europe Newspapers and Asia with another retailer...???

The 29th is a Sunday in the UK ....Sunday Papers have New CD's every week ..from major artist..they would give an arm and a leg to get Lotusflower x 3 CD release...

Looking at this old article ...this release stratergy may be an old idea...
Tuesday July 31, 2007
http://www.musicweek.com/...tioncode=4

As Prince prepares for the start this week of his 21-date residency at The O2 Arena, his advisor Paul Gongaware speaks publicly for the first time about the superstar’s decision to distribute his new Planet Earth album through The Mail On Sunday.

Can you explain your relationship with Prince? You are his manager, aren’t you?
No, Prince is his own manager. I am not his manager, but his tour promoter along with my partner John Meglen at AEG Live, LA. We help him with certain transactions, at his calling. Prince’s O2 and Indigo2 shows are promoted by AEG Live UK and Marshall Arts.

You are being particularly inventive in distributing Planet Earth in the UK. In general, why did you decide to take such a radical approach?

The Mail approached us about doing a greatest hits CD. Prince instantly said, “Let’s do the new CD instead.” He’s a true artist. He didn’t think about anything other than it was a chance for 3m people in the UK to hear his new music. That’s all he really wanted. His plan was not to upset the music industry, but instead speak directly to a UK audience. It was a way to get his music not just to fans, but to people who may never have heard any music from him before.

Specifically, what was the strategy behind the decision to give away Planet Earth with tickets for Prince’s London shows?

We did it on the Musicology tour in 2004. The fans loved it, so we decided to do it here.

Then you struck a deal with The Mail On Sunday – are you aware of the controversy in the UK? Has it taken you by surprise at all?

The controversy was no surprise. We are shaking the very foundation of old-school distribution. I think you really have to put this back on the labels. They have been dragged, kicking and screaming, into the new digital world. They are thinking of themselves, trying desperately to hold on to the old ways. Meanwhile, the way people consume music has changed dramatically. As an artist, Prince’s objective, and rightfully so, was the best way to have his music heard to new audiences. Prince is thinking in terms of direct marketing.

Is there any reason why you chose The Mail On Sunday? And why didn’t you go for a newspaper and/or magazine which has been more actively supportive of Prince over the years?
They came to us. I only wish I was smart enough to have thought of it myself.

Cynics have suggested that the key motivation behind The Mail On Sunday deal is the money. What would you say to this?
It was never about the money. Sony readjusted their deal with Prince so the net effect, money-wise, was nil.

Do you understand the anger of retailers to this decision, retailers who have supported Prince by selling his records over the years?

Yes, I do. They are fighting for their very survival. Do I understand the industry trying to hold on to the old ways? No.

Given Sony BMG in the UK decided not to release the album because of the giveaway, do you expect the album to be released (by Sony BMG or otherwise) at some time in the future – for instance, to allow those who may not have bought The Mail On Sunday or who missed the shows to pick up the album in future months?

That’s up to Sony. I wish they would. We’re live promoters, not record experts, so we likely won’t be able to put that side together in time.

Did you consider any other means of distribution? A giveaway with some other product, for instance? Or a partnership with a traditional record retailer?

Only as an afterthought. Who else in the UK is set up to deliver to 3m people in one day?

Would you, for instance, have considered doing what Sir Paul McCartney has done and signed a record deal with a coffee chain?

Sure. What Sir Paul did was brilliant. Any way we can get music to fans, we will consider.

We understand that you are only following this strategy in the UK? If this is the case, why the UK?
We’re only playing live shows in the UK for the moment. Maybe when we set up shows in another market we'll explore new avenues, with new music.

Are you trying other alternative business models elsewhere? If so, where and what?

This is all so new... nothing yet because we don’t have any more dates booked.

Clearly, the huge publicity surrounding both the concert and newspaper deals are partly because they are so innovative – an impact which you would be unlikely to achieve if you did the same thing again. What other models can you imagine using for Prince’s future albums?
Anything that gets his music to the people. We’re wide open and ready for anything. It’s a new music frontier out there and a very exciting one!

Finally, Prince’s 21 London shows (not to mention the O2 Indigo shows) promise to be among the most exciting live events of the summer – what surprises does Prince have in store for us?

As is the nature of Prince, each night will be different, and he has many surprises in store, which will be revealed to fans as he hits the stage.

One final question – what is the greatest Prince show you have ever seen?

Every show I’ve ever seen him do is sensational. He was born to perform live. He lives to be on stage; he can’t wait to get out there. The best show I ever saw him do was at the SuperBowl where he performed 12 minutes live. It was pouring rain and unbelievably difficult conditions. A billion people saw that show. It was so beautifully conceived and executed that I had tears in my eyes when I saw it. He knows how to touch people.


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Prince plays the first of 21 shows at the O2 arena in North Greenwich this Wednesday as part of his Earth Tour with tickets priced £31.21 (after the title of his previous album) and each coming with a free copy of the new album Planet Earth.
[Edited 3/9/09 10:39am]

I doubt he's gonna do the paper giveaway once again. That was a one time novelty thing.

I wouldn't be surprised if the CDs were not available at retail outside the US and every non-US fan would have to order them on his site.

LiveToTell86 said:

I would be surprised - thats a lot of mail to send out - you'll see it in stores - eventually.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Target have exclusive rights to selling the cds for a month or so but after that it will go to ALL retailers.
[Edited 3/9/09 12:55pm]

^That's true, unless Prince decides that non-US fans are only getting digital copies.

LiveToTell86 said:

He'd be foolish, he'll leave himself open to folk downloading P2P on the day of release. Somebody will put them up no doubt.

He's got a problem here.