I only ask this question because many have said that the club is fraudulent and that it has not delivered what was promised. Many beg to differ. There have been many discussions concerning NPGMC and Prince's irresponsibility on running the show. If there were no music club, there would be silence...is this what you want? 'Cause if I were Prince and I read all these complaints, I would say to hell with trying to deliver music to y'all!!!

These are just my thoughts. Has anyone ever tried to run a club and deliver mail overseas before? Complaints that the downloads were crap X-ed out the downloads. But it was what everyone wanted...NEW Music. I dunno, maybe I'm jaded from the complaints.

Tina (~!~)

NettieSmiles said:

Prince won't do that or he'd be broke before the year is out... NPGMC is his main source of income, that and touring, and I don't expect much of that next year ...

I'll answer your question for you. "would you (meaning orgers) complain about there being no NPGMusic Club in 2003?"

YES! There will be complaints, I guaruntee...

People will always complain about something. ALWAYS!

NettieSmiles said:

Of course some people would moan!

However, the club shutting down will have no effect on Princes output. He can still put it out via many channels.

If he chooses to retire, thats his right, even if its because he's got he panties in a twist because some people who won't hand over blank cheques.

By the way, I manage a very well know organisation, with 38,000 members, overseas shipping, phone lines, ticket distribution...

plus!

We manage the members flights and accomodation, 6 times a year.

This memberships are handled by 5 staff, will a totally salary of £136,000.

NPGMC should be ashamed of their business ethics and customer service.
[This message was edited Mon Dec 16 9:20:46 PST 2002 by SquirrelMeat]

NettieSmiles said:

very
VERY
naive

Many people on this site complain in the way they do for reasons other than the quality of the Club:

(a) Becoming far too intense

Prince and his music are addictive for many. However, this leads to many fans becoming too demanding, always wanting more and more. Eventually, such a negative frame of mind is formed that everything Prince does is seen negatively.

One can spot these individuals by their use of over the top or bad language. They frequently act in a way embarrassingly to the other fans. They show themselves to be rather sad and also often say rude and arrogant things about Prince that are unconstructive. "Fuck Prince" would be hurtful if said to his face, so why bother doing it behind his back.

(b) Misunderstanding the ethos of the Club

If more people understood the ethos of the Club they would still retain the ability for constructive criticism but not exert the hateful kind that they do now. Their attitudes would be softened both by the collective idea of the Club and also that the Club is still in its infancy and thus learning from its experience.


The Club, done well is a fantastic idea. It must continue regardless of its past performance. However, it must continue learning from its mistakes and drawing on its successes.

Fans must also learn too, though. They should examine their attitudes with relation to the above. Moreover, they must take responsibility for their actions. Quite simply, the fans complaining about the Club are the victims of their own stupidity. Fans who refused to wait and see what the Club offered must see their own actions as the cause of their suffering. Many fans waited to see if the Club was right for them. These individuals are not complaining.

Bring on the 2003 NPGMC and banish the foolish fans!

NettieSmiles said:

I'd be very sorry if he gave up on this, even with all of its problems.

I really wonder, with the steady stream of complaints, if he might just throw his hands in the air. That would be a shame, IMHO.

Doves,
Mel!ssa

I do agree that anyone who joins right off the bat next year and buys into their promises is asking for trouble.

Particularly the 1st year, I was under the not-too-far-fetched impression that the club was going to be the only way to get the new music. For two years now, especially year two, that has not been the case.

I don't see why people prefer to pay all at once for a bundle of music and services, when they may not be able to recieve half of them?

The truth is they are behind schedule this year mailing members CDs out before they hit retail. Reports on here show they had to delay the retail release a bit longer to cover their behinds. In other words they F'ed up again.

They arent going to feel compelled to be more responsible if customers don't start sending them a message.

Isn't it amusing how they never have any problems taking the orders, its the shipping of them where everything seems to fall apart?
[This message was edited Mon Dec 16 10:35:05 PST 2002 by Tom]

i would be very sorry to see no club in 2003...but at this point i wouldn't be surpized at all...

I agree that the club will not close due to the money it provides Prince.

I don't think we are going to see Prince on the sidelines for long so far as touring is concerned. He'll probably take a break, record a new album, and then tour sparingly to support it. Although, I think our friends overseas are going to have to wait A LONG time to see Prince again.

The ONLY reason I will and HAVE joined the club in the past is / was because I will be supporting Prince's musical output.
To an extent I EXPECT like everyone else does... However, I learned a LONG time ago (NPG Mag which I NEVER got ONE copy of even though I subscribed AND EVEN WORKED AT NPG at the time etc etc etc) that Prince's ideas for ANY sort of retail ventures were all just ideas he said out loud.
SO, I don't expect him to EVER live up to ANYTHING he says.

His music has been a MAJOR part of who I have become in life and I will support that and that ONLY. If my measely $100 a year is what he needs to keep making music and growing as a musician (Rainbow Children is his most mature LP yet aside from Xenophobia), than I don't mind spending it.

I am VERY high strung, and I am not at all cool with the way Prince seems to think he can pull one over on everyone.. This is the only thing that keeps me from wanting to support him, however, I think I will continue to do so for now. The Xenophbia record next year will be worth it at least.

T

I think Prince has inked a distribution deal with universal to distribute NPG RECORDS

slm4m said:

Is this true??? Would be great news...
Maybe the radio will get a little better... when a major company is supporting him again...

okay, okay... we all know about the 'bad' company slogans all the time... and I agree with them 95%...

But since it's not changing... let me have the most of Prince as possible!

Okay... I feel some flames comming up... go 4 it!

i would be sad - despite the many many complaints/opinions about the NPGMC - i'm fine with it - fuck ups and all
bigger fish to fry my friends

TheMEssage said:

wow pretty cool post T.

I pretty much agree with you there. I like what Prince has done/is doing musically and I would like to help him continue because I like what his music has done/is doing for me.

NuPwrSoul said:

EVEN THOUGH I HOPE THE CLUB CONTINUES IN 2003, IF IT DOESN'T I WON'T COMPLAIN BECAUSE BETWEEN RECEIVING THE ONE NITE ALONE PIANO CD AND THE ONE NITE ALONE BOX SET AND ALSO GETTING ACCESS TO THE SOUNDCHECK IN BUFFALO NY WHERE I ALSO MET HIM AND THEN ATTENDING MY 1ST AFTERSHOW THAT NIGHT IN BUFFALO, I FEEL MY $100 WAS WELL SPENT!!!

LOL! U know some1 will complain, people ain't happy unless they complaining. If Prince showed up at their house they would complain about him being there.

NO!I didn't miss 2002's membership and i certainly won't miss next years.I've got into alot of other artist because
of NPGMC 2002 so in a way i would like to thank Prince for opening me up to more great music.

the club is not perfect... and at times, i have felt like it was jerking us around...

but despite all of this, i feel like the positives have outwieghed the negatives (for me, at least)...

so, if there is an npgmc in 2003, i will mos def be renewing my membership...

and i wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the most vocal complainers around here are renewing as well...

8)

Ofcourse people will complain because 1 - many people think they actually got value for their money and 2 - meaning that you complain about not getting what was promised doesn't mean you want the club to stop excisting.

I think people want improvement and that's part of the reason why they complain. Apparently complaining to NPGMC has no effect, so they're trying to get heard by complaining to the BBB. Hell, even as a non-member I would like the club to improve because I think it has great potential, but unless it does improve significantly, I won't join.
[This message was edited Mon Dec 16 23:51:46 PST 2002 by joeycoco]

NettieSmiles said:

No NPGMC year 3?

I would take Prince to court and sue him. I have my rights!!!

I will not complain but I will be disapointed. I have no complaints about my 100 dollars, None. I read people say members didn't get their box set before the public, well I've had mine for at least two weeks now. And I love it. So I got 4 CD's, actually 6 CD's because I got ONA 3 times.

I got to the celebration and it was worth every penny, As a matter of fact, I would have probaly paid 500 dollars for that celebration.

If there is a Club in 2003, I will join again, on day one to be exact. some complain that you are paying for something that you don't know what you will get or if you will like it. Well I have every official release from Prince and I have not been disapointed yet.

And I have heard Boots, and none sound as good as ONA live
some isn't worth 5 dollars, You can hear people talking, etc. and the sound is like listening to your neighbors stereo across the street. I would not pay for that. but alot of people complaining about Prince have paid a lot of money for that crap. And have the nerve to complain about quality music.

Get a Life.

jazzy328is said:

When will you learn that people buying bootlegs know what they're getting and expect it to be far less (sound quality wise) than anything Prince will ever release. The "quality" of Prince releases they complain about has usually to do with the content, not the sound.

In the case of NPGMC they expected something else than they got in the mail and believe they were promised certain things in writing. So the whole bootleg argument is completely irrelevant.

I think Prince does a lot for the fans. I wouldn't be surprised if there was no music club or anything for that matter.

NettieSmiles said:

try to think WHERE this allc ame from.

try to think WHO made PROMISES

and then, if you really think you have to, point the finger in the right direction.

TheMEssage said:

prince doesn't need one single dime to continue making music. prince has got like hundredsofmillions.

-
[This message was edited Tue Dec 17 2:31:19 PST 2002 by Abrazo]

chickengrease29 said:

What a bunch of bogus you talk. People don't comlain to feel happy. People comlain because they are not happy, FOR A REASON. When are you going to wake up and realise how much has gone wrong this year and how many members were excluded from the club?

I can tell you WAY TOO MUCH.

but that would be "complaining" again of course... bullcrap: "people are not happy unless they complain".

-
[This message was edited Tue Dec 17 6:57:42 PST 2002 by Abrazo]

jazzy328is said:

see that's the problem with some fans. they act so selfish, such bastards you act.

YOU KNOW many people didn't get what they were promissed, but you don't give a shit! all you care about is yourself, because YOU got everything you wanted.
I'm sick of people like you.


-

and I really mean that
[This message was edited Tue Dec 17 6:55:08 PST 2002 by Abrazo]