I remember years back after the break from WB and the inclusion of the internet as an advertising device for him how it made him seem so underground.

Because of that I think we got some really inspired internet releases such as When I Lay My Hands On You, Beautiful Strange, Chocolate Invasion material and the rest. He was able to experiment and put it out there without having to have a full fledged record comp[any backing. This is in essence what he spoke of upon the split from WB

But there was also something lacking. The music was getting out there but who was listening but maybe 5000 of us on the Prince world net?

The other night a friend told me that her family watched Purple Rain and she told her children that I went to see this guy in concert recently. They asked “Why?” as in “What’s the attraction?”

Sad times indeed.

That’s why I think he blinked. Sure he gained independence but he also lost a lot of public awareness.

He attempted to regain it with the Rave Clive Davis scenario but that really did not turn out to fruition.
He did gain it again with the Musicology project and the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame event.

But then again he was out of the spotlight.

Now that he came to his senses, he has embraced Hollywood so to speak. I say came to his senses because an artist does need some form of marketing device. If a tree falls in the forest and it doesn’t have marketing, nobody hears it imo. It also does NOT get paid. I don’t think an artists of his nature or stature can really survive on internet only fans .

Which is my point (thanks for reading so far).

I am glad he is in the limelight again. The reports from Entertainment Tonight and other media outlets reporting on him over the past few years have sort of pissed off some of us as we aren’t able to be a part of these events but at least it doesn’t feel like IM following an internet artist only. I like having the world know about him and us. It almost makes it all relevant again after all of these years. It got tiring explaining a decade of information of internet releases and shenannegins to my friends who always asked me “What ever happened to Prince?”

Nothing happened, he just left the machine. He was still productive but it went unheralded I think.

If he had never blinked sure he would still be “a slave” but he would still be in the awareness of the public old and YOUNG. For example, whether one likes the song or not, the So Far So Pleased song with Gwen Stefani would have boosted his image to some of the youngsters out there. And his other releases probably would have been played on the radio (“here’s Prince’s latest!) and maybe some young minds would find it appealing. I do realize that it may also effect his output as I think some recent releases were created to be pleasing easy to the ear pop to make him more appealing to the masses. The Lotus Flower release songs from what I’ve heard seem more authentic and true to where he really is at now.

Overall I’m glad he uses Hollywood. Yeah it’s a bummer not to always be a part of it but I do understand the reasoning for it. Here’s to a second coming out.

hi
you made some really good points,but i think that someone like prince,who sold out 21 nites in london o2 arena,sold out 7 nites at staples center...etc has never really been out of the loop...the great thing about prince fans and they're dedication is that when they have children they bring um to prince shows which introduces them to new generations....also because of his longevity and wonderfull legacy of music he is much respected in the entertainment business.....so really he has the best of both worlds...and he will always be loved.....

arcturus said:

I think he had to get back IN the loop to sell out those shows. I dont think he could have just announced those shows back in 1999 lets say and hav the success he did in 2004 and 2007.

xlr8r said:

I agree.Prince did alot of tv/radio promotion in the US 4 the `Musicology` tour/album.He went local & announced gigs with little notice which in itself built excitement & gave maximum attention 4 the event. With the `Gold`tour in the UK he played 15 large indoor arena gigs but the whole name change fiasco & the fact no hits were played massively dented his popularity 2 the extent that he only played 2 gigs in `98 & 5 gigs in `02 (aftershows not included).4 the record IMO in `99 he would not have sold 21 gigs at the 02 without the positive reviews of the `Musicology` tour & without the huge publicity that went with the free giveaway of the `Planet Earth` cd!
Also i think that if `So Far So Pleased` would have been released as a single it would have sunk without a trace as it`s bland shite!!
Hopefully `Lotusflower` will do well in the US but he needs 2 get over 2 the UK & strut his stuff if not gig wise at least on tv.

`Hold On 2 Ur Wigs,We`ve Got A Long Way 2 Go`.

kookooman73 said:

I know SFSP isnt the be all to end all but it's a nice song, especially for 1999. And at that time Gwen was dueting all over the place, lending her vox to Moby and Eve on major hits. It would have fit right in. Had he not blinked.

Now Lotusflower? Nah. That is not radio friendly at all (and that's a positive thing).

xlr8r,

You made some interesting and rather profound points.Prince's marketing strategies have been creative, but not always mass market friendly.I am currently in my graduate studies in media psychology and believe he has the capacity to be both.I hope he finally hired a Media Psychologist for the "Lotusflow3r website project."It appears to me that in the past he has thrown many things at the wall in hopes that some of them stick! Well indeed some have, but not nearly the way they could have had he hired an expert in the psychology of fan-based consumerism! Moreover,a few minor changes and he would have young and old alike, head over heals in love with him again, vs."Prince Who? or Prince sucks!" attitudes that permeate the media.

As a fan of his work, myself,I am thankful he found some ways in the last few years to be a little more mainstream, but I simply do not believe he has to work that hard to do it. He needs to hire someone, if he hasn't already, who will truly lead him back to mass appeal of a fresh, new, "iconic status".... the one you and I have always known.

xlr8r said:

Wow!

shellyann said:

You mean like say, a manager? Or talent agency?

Mike Ovitz.

does this mean that Prince is going Hollywood?

when i think of the whole LA thing with Prince i always think of the song 'Jukebox With A Heart Beat'
I mean hey..if hes happy there etc. great for him etc. I just always think of that song.

tangerine7 said:

I can see why you think that. That song is dope.

xlr8r said:

Mike,
Perhaps, but probably not just a manager.Prince has never been into the mainstream industry; hence my suggestion for a specialist.He needs real help from experts who are willing to do the research, and find a new market niche for him, or at least determine what will get people to start drinking the purple Kool-aid again and then he has it made.In addition, he needs to have people schmoozing the radio stations at all times.Perhaps more importantly, he needs to do something crazy and unexpected, like a reality television show, to bring him into the limelight again. Truthfully,although I have ideas, I don't claim to be an expert,yet, I can comfortably state something completely off the wall would work to break the cycle and as a fan of his music, I am truly hoping the website will be the venue that facilitates that.Music available today is mostly crap! If Prince can present himself in a new and fresh way, while getting airplay, he will again be a force to be reckoned with.

I know this probably sounds like I am down on Prince's marketing efforts, but quite the contrary.Personally, I believe he has had some out-of-the-box, close to genius marketing decisions, which perhaps, may not have been ready for the time. I am simply suggesting,he, even without a recognizable label, could seriously rock the world again.

Maybe Prince is just happy with how things are in his life today...Maybe once U reach a certain successful level with happiness and finance...U just wanna control what U have and just live.

Nothing is going to change Prince's legendary success as an artist both creative and influential.

Money can bring U the benefits of enjoying a more expensive lifestyle and the ability to share.

How happy Prince is would be his perspective of success. I pray that he is happy.

Tame said:

Good Point....but the more people you reach, the more seeds you can plant...and that is his ultimate goal.

PEJ said:

Movie stars, moving cars, and everythang

shellyann said:

I don't think he needs "psychologist" to market him. Any A&R Talent agency should be good enough. They get the word out there and have a team with connections yadda yadda yadda. Anyways, Im just glad he is on the lips of the media again instead of this undergrounbd no longer known artist.

I don't think he needs "psychologist" to market him. Any A&R Talent agency should be good enough. They get the word out there and have a team with connections yadda yadda yadda. Anyways, Im just glad he is on the lips of the media again instead of this undergrounbd no longer known artist.[/quote]

Good Point! A talent agency would be best, but he is not going for it! A consultant who specializes in the area, may provide the neccessary direction to forge his career on top again.

I have high hopes for this new venture of his as well and am glad he is getting some decent coverage.!

Prince's hardcore fans seem to have the mindset that he should be more popular, hence the constant mentions of Purple Rain etc. it's not going to happen, Prince will never dent the top ten singles charts anywhere ever again.

As long as he is content in upsetting his own fanbase, how realistically is he going to appeal to the casual music fan, $77 subscriptions to his website? no, come on! he isn't that interested. The whole Hollywood thing is just attention seeking, playing the game.

If only a million folk worldwide sign up for his new site, why the hell should he care? He'll be minted til the next bright idea he has.

Clever.

shellyann said:

I agree...yet legends like Prince don't fall away from music history. Some bands will sell albums forever just because their music is collectable....Prince is like Elvis...and they sit close by eachother on many record shelves.

When a younger generation comes along a hundred years from now...Prince will have carried on. Prince making music for the rest of this life, is a great thing...it's just more of the same success...All I'm saying is that Prince has already hit the mark.."Purple Rain," is a planted root that lives 4ever...

Marrk said:

Im not even talking about music charts (or his place in history). Im just talking about public awareness of Prince still doing things.

I went to see the ONA tour at the Kodak theater and it seemed like it wasn't even advetrtised that prince was in town.

"What'd you do last night?"

"Went and saw Prince play in Hollywood."

"You did? He's touring? He's still around?"

I remember some kid walking outside of the Avalon while we were in line was dancing on the street and he stopped to ask who we were waiting to see. When we said Prince he wasn't sure if he had ever heard of Prince although his friend that was older knew who Prince was and that he sang Kiss. Youth of Today is all about Justin, Jonas, or Miley

PEJ said:

I know! It is so sad! Some of the new music is OK, but great....not a chance! I have exposed my children and some of their friends to "better" music and they are grateful, and are even in shock at the difference! I have made some young "fans-believers" in meaningful music, obviously that includes Prince.

PEJ said:

But that doesn't have to be. Many know who The Rolling Stones are. Not that they like them but they know who they are. That's all I ask for. We should have asked that kid if he knew who The Stones were

xlr8r said:

Good Point, Prince should be a household name to the new generation, just like Elvis was to some of us!

i'd embrace hollywood media if it didn't give me HIVES.

shellyann said:

Well then what better way of making yourself a household name than through Hollywood. right?

PEJ said:

yeah. let the world eat out the insides of his soul some more.

great idea.

NoMoreCandy4U said:

he'll always have soul don't trip potato chip

NoMoreCandy4U said:

account deleted that fast? wow he must have been in a yellow taxi

PEJ said:

yup

we are back!