imo: no doubt about the late Michael Jackson is/ was the most "hyped" singer in the world: all those Pepsi (and other) commercials, those big staues portraying himself during HIStory, etc.


What about Prince, has he ever used "stunts" or "hype" like that in the media....

If not,

why do you think Prince is not doing "gimmicks" like that to promote himself....



(Sorry if these questions are.... a bit silly)

thedance said:

Well, he did give a way Planet Earth with the Mail on Sunday. That's sort of a gimmick, isn't it?

And I think that many people will think of the name change as a gimmick .. albeit not one that worked very well for him, if you think of it as a just a gimmick (it could probably be argued that Prince went from mainstream pop star to mainstream obscurity, all starting with the name change).

Anywho.. I don't think we've quite seen the vanity from Prince to turn himself into floating statues on the Thames and making videos that showed him off as a small country dictator with hordes of military men (and fireworks and helicopters and ouvertures and..), unlike some famously dead other singer.

Cravens said:

Around 1994, he put ads in the paper where he was seeking "for the most beautiful girl in the world to spend holidays with." The candidates who actually wrote him back were filmed and the footage was used in the video "The most beautiful girl in the world." All the people you see in the video are actually the people who responded to the ad, at least some of them; he got hundreds or thousands of letters.
I remember something about an overweight woman who apparently regained her happiness in life because of Prince's invitation and his manners towards her on the set. During the shoot she became determined to lose some weight.

During the same year he released 1-800-New-Funk that featured some of the artists and music he was to release under his new NPG Records label. Eventually of course, people went seperate ways.

The movie Graffiti Bridge was released around the time when he was opening his own nightclub, Glam Slam, in 1990 or 1991. I understand the film was shot in the club premises, in addition to Minneapolis area and Paisley Park Studios.

Around 1995 he launched Get Wild perfume, hence the title of the single "Get Wild" from NPG album Exodus.
[Edited 3/5/10 3:11am]
[Edited 3/5/10 3:11am]

Hmm, the whole name-change thing for sure. the whining, bitching and moaning about record companies and their $100m+ contracts.

Definition of gimmicky.

Gave Musicology away as a "free" disk at concerts, but yet it was included in the ticket price. Gimmicked himself right to the top of the charts, pretty much.

3121 - Golden Ticket

Planet Earth - Gave it away in The Mail

Emancipation - lower tag price

Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic - " album produced by Prince"

The Rainbow Children - Before it was released, it was billed as "The New Controversial Album By Prince". It was also the first album back under the "Prince" moniker.

NewPowerSoul - It was by itself or part of the "NewPowerPak", and wherever he went, there were Larry and Chaka as well. The touring revue type thing is a gimmick in itself.

The CD jacket for Indigo Nights was ridiculously huge.

skywalker said:

Any music video is by nature an attempt to create hype.

Cravens said:

Those who understand and appreciate clever marketing tactics appreciate the CD in newspaper giveaway for Planet Earth and the CD with concert ticket for Musicology as rather innovative marketing and PR. It most definitely helped skyrocket Musicology up the charts and made that tour one of the biggest grossing tours of that year.

The most admirable thing about those programs for me was that Prince was cutting edge - as Prince has been in some form or fashion throughout his career. This time, however, it was not the artistic innovation that was in the spotlight. He was breaking new ground on the business side of music. NPGmusicclub was lauded as a innovative way for a najor artist to connect with fans and distrubute music - as well as preferred seating and free aftershows for loyal fan club members. Prince even won an award for this if I am not mistaken.

Glitches prevailed early on as thy will with almost any new business venture - Crystal Ball was actually before NPGMC and that was more of a distribution issue than anything else. I know something about the business of CD production so I understood how that could happen - though I got my CDs on time everytime.

Prince puts himself out there like no other major artist will. We didnt see his contemporaries like U2 or Madonna or even Michael Jackson (whose career was dead after having a fight with a major record label) stepping out of the box and put their money into something independent and enterprising.

Prince's "gimmick" is usually pissing people off.
He pissed of the world in 84 or 85 for not doing We Are The World. He pissed off
Warner with whole contract fiasco. He pissed of WArner and fans with the whole name change thing. He pissed off Fans with his poor website. He pissed off the music industry with the Musicology give away. He pissed off his fans and fansites with the "removing pics and videos". He pissed off the UK with the Planet Earth give away. He pissed off his fans again with the lotus website. And he pissed ME off with Purple and Gold!
Still gotta love him though

I dont think he is using hype or gimmicks. I think he is advertising in the ways he knows how to without a huge conglomerate/record company backing.

ernestsewell said:

MacDaddy said:

nyse said:

that was an awesome comment! Lol

ronnwinter said:

haha thx. I've been waiting to use it for a while now. This seemed appropriate.

ronnwinter said:

Are you taking the piss?

Joyinrepatition said:

Well now I feel all dirty...

thedance said:

Is today your first day as a Prince fan??

His whole career has been based on stunts, from being hailed as the next Stevie Wonder on For You up through the Target-only release of LotusFlow3r.

Other examples:
The Dirty Mind outfits and stage show
The Controversy lyrics
Not giving interviews
Emancipation
Gold Experience "Release Date: NEVER!"
The Tora Tora era
Diamonds and Pearls' holograph cover
The Lovesexy album cover
The name change
The name change back
"Slave" painting / fight with WB
The peekaboo pants at the MTV Awards
Skipping out on We Are the World
Under the Cherry Moon premiere party
and a billion more

don't believe the hype