rdhull said:

:LOL:

4LOVE said:

She didn't call anyone names...

LaVisHh said:

It wasn't cause he called her a name..it was the venacular etc, the expression that is Pryor-esqye, Red Foxx-ish...as in "muthafucka please". Plus with all that cultish drivel she/he posted you had best expect some shit to fly your way regardless and be able to take it. You bad enough to post that stuff be bad enough to take what responses you get ..I am.

It wasn't cause he called her a name..it was the venacular etc, the expression that is Pryor-esqye, Red Foxx-ish...as in "muthafucka please". Plus with all that cultish drivel she/he posted you had best expect some shit to fly your way regardless and be able to take it. You bad enough to post that stuff be bad enough to take what responses you get ..I am.

Why are people taking this to Okayplayer? They aren't a Prince site are they?
How many people have gotten a response? I think someone may be spreading this story to further portray the music club in a negative light.

FIFI said:

the
real
debate
switched
to
more
open
and
uncensored
forums

JC said:

Aren't these forums open and uncensored?

http://www.okayplayer.com/dcforum/lesson/54001.html#13


This letter serves as a New Power Generation Music Club's (NPGMC) response
to the above referenced complaints. Per your correspondence, we understand
that you will forward our response to the complaining members. Given that
the NPGMC's current "unsatisfactory" rating on the BBB website was based
solely on an "unanswered complaint," we trust that the rating will be
changed to reflect that NPGMC did, in afact, respond to all of the current
complaints within the agreed upon time established in my letter dated %$%$%
and your discussions with my colleague, %%$%$$.


NPGMC denies any allegations of false, misleading or deceptive practices
relevant to NPGMC advertising, memberships or offerings. Contrary to the
recent complaints, since its inception in February 2001, NPGMC has provided
thousands of satisfied Prince fans with premiere and direct access to Prince
's music, concerts, special events and merchandise for a nominal membership
fee of $100.00. NPGMC has also been forthright and truthful about the
benefits and limitations of the membership on its website, the primary and
official vehicle for communication with potential and current members.

NPGMC thus disagrees with any claims that it has been deceptive or failed to
fulfill its membership promises. At most, the current complaints represent
simple differences in interpretation of words, uninformed assumptions and/or
misunderstandings about expectations held by the complaining members, not
deceptive business practices by NPGMC.

In order to have a context for analyzing the recent complaints, we offer
this brief background about NPGMC.

At Prince's discretion, each year's membership includes different and unique
benefits. For example, in 2001, members received access to 12 monthly
downloads of songs. This year, in 2002, Prince decided to move to a calendar
year membership and to offer a total of 4 CDs mailed directly to NPGMC
members, worldwide, including the first ever "live" release by Prince, a 3
CD box set entitled One Night Alone.Live, which was recently sent to
domestic members and is being sent to members abroad next week.

In addition, one of the most significant membership privileges each year
(which many fans value the most) is the premier access to concerts and
related special events.

Relevant to the concert perks, each NPGMC member received:
*Access to purchase any 2002 concert tickets two days before the general
public.
*VIP seating at the concert (within the first fifteen rows).
*Admittance to the pre-concert sound check.
*VIP access to the concert after-party.

Moreover, this year, NPGMC members were the only ones who were entitled to
confirmed tickets for the seven night Xenophobia concert celebration that
took place at Prince's own Paisley Park studios in Chanhassen, which
included hundreds of hours of exclusive live performances with a variety of
highly talented musicians.

Again, this privilege alone is worth more than $100 to Prince fans and most
NPGMC members.

In fact, many members join solely for the access to the premiere concert
tickets, and other special offerings like the sound checks, where NPGMC
members have the opportunity to interact with Prince in an intimate group
with other members, make song requests for the concert, and listen to Prince
practice.

That's a totally "exclusive" opportunity that is never available to anyone
other than NPGMC members.

Finally, only NPGMC members are granted access to the exclusive section of
the website and certain NPG merchandise.

The complaining members seem to primarily take issue with NPGMC and the One
Night Alone.Live release because 1) they believe that the 4 CD commitment
meant 4 separate and individually shipped CDs, 2) they believed that the 4
CDs should have been sent earlier in the membership year, 3) the 3 CD set
will be sold to the general public and the retail price for the 3CD set is
less than the $100 membership fee, and 4) the music on the CDs is not "new"
or "exclusive."

In an effort to clear up any assumptions and misunderstandings, we have
responded to each issue in turn. First, NPGMC never represented on the
website, the primary communication vehicle to NPGMC members, that the music
benefit would 4 separate, individually shipped CDs. The NPGMC website stated
"Each 2002 member will receive at least 4 new Prince CDs in the mail from
Paisley Park b4 the end of 2002."

There was one advertisement in this year's tour book that referenced certain
CDs that may be accessible through NPGMC but there was no firm commitment to
offer those particular CDs.

Ultimately, Prince decided to release the 3 CD set to NPGMC members based on
part on a belief that it would be more appealing to NPGMC members, given
that many fans over the years have requested "live" recordings and that this
is the first time Prince actually did so.

NPGMC said it would provide members with 4 CDs during the calendar year and
that was done. There was no misrepresentation or breach.

Second, NPGMC never made any representations about when CDs would be sent to
members, only that the 2002 members would receive 4 CDs during the calendar
year. Although NPGMC may have wanted to release the 3 CD set earlier in the
year to NPGMC members, it was not possible for production and distribution
reasons. The intent of NPGMC has always been to ensure that NPGMC members
get releases before everyone else. That happened this year, even though the
gap in distribution for NPGMC members and the general public is smaller than
originally envisioned.

Retail sales of the the 3 CD set are not set to begin until mid-December.

Third, NPGMC has never represented that releases to NPGMC members would
never be released anywhere else. Because that is not a commitment that NPGMC
ever made to its members, there is no standing to complain that the One
Night Alone.Live 3 CD set is also being sold in retail stores.

Moreover, although the 3 CD set does retail for less than the NPGMC
membership fee, members receive much more than just the 4 CDs for their
$100. As stated above, the value of the concert benefits alone exceeds $100
for most fans and NPGMC members.

Fourth and finally, the complaining members claim that the music on the 2002
membership CDs is not "new" or "exclusive" as advertised by NPGMC.
Apparently, the complaining members are interpreting "new" and "exclusive"
as "never before heard" or "never to be released anywhere else."

That interpretation was never communicated to potential or current NPGMC
members, nor was it Prince's intent relevant to the CDs privilege of NPGMC
membership. It is solely within Prince's purview to decide which music he
releases to NPGMC members each year. While the complaining members
apparently disagree, the CDs that were released in 2002 are "new" and
"exclusive" as they were never released before and the "live" release is
altogether unprecedented.

Moreover, the separate One Night Alone piano CD, which was shipped earlier
in the the year was only made available to NPGMC members. Prince and NPGMC
have kept their commitment with respect to providing "new" and "exclusive"
music to its members.

Reasonable people can disagree and interpret words and their meanings very
differently. To the extent that the complaining NPGMC members have
interpreted NPGMC promotions contrary to the intended meaning, we apologize
and in an effort to resolve these matters will re-examine the language on
the website and in any other promotional materials for possible ways to
clarify the message.

It is important, however, to note that deception was not the intent and
NPGMC takes issue with allegations of that nature. The NPGMC membership
sign-in explicitly states:
"By clicking continue below u agree 2 the Club Membership Agreement. U also
understand that all 2002 memberships will end at the end of 2002 and u will
have to renew in January 2003 if u wish to continue.

WARNING: There are no returns or refunds."
Therefore, it would be inappropriate and unfair to other members to offer a
refund to these complaining members.

And by the way, SingMiaSong, money does matter. Prince could have very easily did everything he did for the club members for absolutely free. The Celebration, the concert seats..really, does anybody believe that Prince isn't a millionaire many times over and who helped him to get there...US. The people who didn't stop listening when all the other commerical Prince fans did. I used to be one of the "I am 100% happy with the club" people, but then rationality started kicking in. By the way, the Chicago fans did not get great seats for the concerts.