ernestsewell said:

Prince is being WAY hypocritical here. Artists make music. They don't get paid, by default, for that. It's supposed to be their bread and butter, just like anyone else's job/task/occupation/whatever. No one goes into Walmart for a job and says "I want a year's pay up front, or I'm not doing it." Prince thinks he's at the point where he's PRINCE and people should be grateful to smell his tennis shoes walk into their office, when in fact, he's not bankable. He's not a guaranteed hit, whether in sales or a #1 song. (Yes yes, "charts don't matter", but the fact is Prince has tried again and again to play to the charts since day one, and continues to do so.) While I'm not endorsing the way Soundscan runs things, because we all know its shifty ways, the fact is that Prince knows they aren't friendly to him for whatever reason, and vice versa. So why not get his pay up front, and side-step all that lack of whatever? NO band, present, past, or future, as the clout to say "I want to be paid, in full, up front, or else." NO ONE. Sure, maybe an artist gets an advance to secure and guarantee, and downright motivate, them to finish a project and make it friendly enough for fans and the general public to be attracted to; and even a bonus at the end. But who on earth thinks they can just throw out rules like this and get away with it? Prince does, but look where it's gotten him. He's now pooping on anyone who doesn't play by his rules. I've no doubt Prince knows the business. He's been in it for eons, and has been through a lot with it. He's been near broke a few times, and recovered. Whatever happened to Prince actually working for his paycheck? He tried resting on his laurels, and that didin't work. So why not poo poo the lack of interest, opposed to looking in the mirror and self-critiquing what another common denominator might be in the equation of "being over".

- That's why Prince wants his money up front. So he can run with it when he knows he'll lose interest in his own shit in three months. Case in point: Lotusflow3r. Case in point: Endless orders at 1800NEWFUNK, NPGMC, etc etc etc that were never filled, partially filled. How many people couldn't even get some yahoo in Los Angeles to package up a t-shirt and send it off in 2009? How hard is it to create a database, or even a damn spread sheet in fucking Excel, to keep track of people????? Sure it's task heavy, but that's part of running a business. Nothing is THAT simple. Prince has ADHD when it comes to everyone's business, but seems to be quite keen when it comes to his own.

Does it dawn on no one when Prince told Tavis Smiley, regarding the Target distribution of Lotusflow3r, "I'm taken care of, and Bria is taken care of", and after that, we saw practically NOTHING of him. Three nights on Leno, and one again for a farewell (not even a Lotus song there). That was March. Add a couple of appearances on either Ellen or whatever. Didnt' see him again until the end of the year, not in a big way, not on TV, not in interviews, not a video NOTHING. Out of 365 days in a year, how many did Prince really appear and work toward selling Lotusflow3r? The ill-proportion is embarrassing, at best. Prince took the money, delivered a 1/4-assed project (it wasn't even half-assed), then skipped off with his girl friend of the now. No more candy for us - indeed.

- Prince won't give his song to iTunes? Bullshit. Not only is his WB stuff on there, which he may or may not have a say-so in, but so it his independent releases like Planet Earth, "S.S.T.", "F.U.N.K.", "Te Amo Corazon", "Fury", "Dance 4 Me (remix)", "Black Sweat/Beautiful Loved & Blessed", as well as WB compilations he DID have a say so in like Very Best Of, and Ultimate, and even The Hits/The B-Sides.

- The internet isn't over. No one trusts him anymore, and he fucking knows it. Maybe Prince has finally gotten the message from his hoards that they won't just accept his half-assed attempts at stuff because, well "that's just Prince - he's a genius". REALLY? At what? Playing music? Totally. Selling it? Eh, 50/50. Promoting his work? 40/60. Being a man of his word? Zero.

- He used to be all about "all these computers and digital gadgets" back when the internet was new, and TheDawn.com was around, or L40A. He allegedly "loved the interaction with the fans", until the fans had a voice of their own and wasn't walking in a purple haze when entering their credit card number. He realized his minions weren't willing to be part of the clone wars. All those numbers aren't so bad in a computer when it's printing out his royalty check, now is it?

No Prince, the internet isn't over. It's just over for you.

Just put your CDs in stores, get your lump sum up front, we'll buy it, and you can run off to Paris for another summer, and play in the sunshine. We'll be here listening to Lovesexy or Dirty Mind, remembering when it was still more cool to be a fan. Oh, we're still fans. We still love you. It's your shadiness that we're having issues with. All in love.

[Edited 7/5/10 11:30am]

Ernest, you knocked this one out of the park. Excellent!

ernestsewell said:

Prince is being WAY hypocritical here. Artists make music. They don't get paid, by default, for that. It's supposed to be their bread and butter, just like anyone else's job/task/occupation/whatever. No one goes into Walmart for a job and says "I want a year's pay up front, or I'm not doing it." Prince thinks he's at the point where he's PRINCE and people should be grateful to smell his tennis shoes walk into their office, when in fact, he's not bankable. He's not a guaranteed hit, whether in sales or a #1 song. (Yes yes, "charts don't matter", but the fact is Prince has tried again and again to play to the charts since day one, and continues to do so.) While I'm not endorsing the way Soundscan runs things, because we all know its shifty ways, the fact is that Prince knows they aren't friendly to him for whatever reason, and vice versa. So why not get his pay up front, and side-step all that lack of whatever? NO band, present, past, or future, as the clout to say "I want to be paid, in full, up front, or else." NO ONE. Sure, maybe an artist gets an advance to secure and guarantee, and downright motivate, them to finish a project and make it friendly enough for fans and the general public to be attracted to; and even a bonus at the end. But who on earth thinks they can just throw out rules like this and get away with it? Prince does, but look where it's gotten him. He's now pooping on anyone who doesn't play by his rules. I've no doubt Prince knows the business. He's been in it for eons, and has been through a lot with it. He's been near broke a few times, and recovered. Whatever happened to Prince actually working for his paycheck? He tried resting on his laurels, and that didin't work. So why not poo poo the lack of interest, opposed to looking in the mirror and self-critiquing what another common denominator might be in the equation of "being over".

- That's why Prince wants his money up front. So he can run with it when he knows he'll lose interest in his own shit in three months. Case in point: Lotusflow3r. Case in point: Endless orders at 1800NEWFUNK, NPGMC, etc etc etc that were never filled, partially filled. How many people couldn't even get some yahoo in Los Angeles to package up a t-shirt and send it off in 2009? How hard is it to create a database, or even a damn spread sheet in fucking Excel, to keep track of people????? Sure it's task heavy, but that's part of running a business. Nothing is THAT simple. Prince has ADHD when it comes to everyone's business, but seems to be quite keen when it comes to his own.

Does it dawn on no one when Prince told Tavis Smiley, regarding the Target distribution of Lotusflow3r, "I'm taken care of, and Bria is taken care of", and after that, we saw practically NOTHING of him. Three nights on Leno, and one again for a farewell (not even a Lotus song there). That was March. Add a couple of appearances on either Ellen or whatever. Didnt' see him again until the end of the year, not in a big way, not on TV, not in interviews, not a video NOTHING. Out of 365 days in a year, how many did Prince really appear and work toward selling Lotusflow3r? The ill-proportion is embarrassing, at best. Prince took the money, delivered a 1/4-assed project (it wasn't even half-assed), then skipped off with his girl friend of the now. No more candy for us - indeed.

- Prince won't give his song to iTunes? Bullshit. Not only is his WB stuff on there, which he may or may not have a say-so in, but so it his independent releases like Planet Earth, "S.S.T.", "F.U.N.K.", "Te Amo Corazon", "Fury", "Dance 4 Me (remix)", "Black Sweat/Beautiful Loved & Blessed", as well as WB compilations he DID have a say so in like Very Best Of, and Ultimate, and even The Hits/The B-Sides.

- The internet isn't over. No one trusts him anymore, and he fucking knows it. Maybe Prince has finally gotten the message from his hoards that they won't just accept his half-assed attempts at stuff because, well "that's just Prince - he's a genius". REALLY? At what? Playing music? Totally. Selling it? Eh, 50/50. Promoting his work? 40/60. Being a man of his word? Zero.

- He used to be all about "all these computers and digital gadgets" back when the internet was new, and TheDawn.com was around, or L40A. He allegedly "loved the interaction with the fans", until the fans had a voice of their own and wasn't walking in a purple haze when entering their credit card number. He realized his minions weren't willing to be part of the clone wars. All those numbers aren't so bad in a computer when it's printing out his royalty check, now is it?

No Prince, the internet isn't over. It's just over for you.

Just put your CDs in stores, get your lump sum up front, we'll buy it, and you can run off to Paris for another summer, and play in the sunshine. We'll be here listening to Lovesexy or Dirty Mind, remembering when it was still more cool to be a fan. Oh, we're still fans. We still love you. It's your shadiness that we're having issues with. All in love.

[Edited 7/5/10 11:30am]

Very well said sir, and I agree totally.

ernestsewell said:

"that's just Prince - he's a genius". REALLY? At what? Playing music? Totally. Selling it? Eh, 50/50. Promoting his work? 40/60. Being a man of his word? Zero.

dance for me and here ... both great songs and everything out right now pales

except maybe that bullet proof song ... i love that song

the internet is the tower of babble .. all this technology has existed before and it will again and in between all of this will be washed away by those who prefer to oppress the intelligence of the mass populus

the internet has great potential but it is being regulated, controlled and manipulated far more than people are led to believe .. its no less a tool to persuade your opinion or profile your politics and threat level than the television or the secret fbi file on john lennon for singing about peace

TrevorAyer said:

the internet has great potential but it is being regulated, controlled and manipulated far more than people are led to believe ..

people who use the internet to make money are part of the problem.

a patriarchal system of $$$ gettin its ass kicked the hell off the net.

it ain't over.

Spinlight said:

Sweething said:

Now whose drinking the koolaid?

Do you not talk in Prince lyrics? Wondering simply because you seem to find it difficult to not want to converse in Princebonics. I can assure you that your new membership here will prove sour if you can't even provide an intelligible response to things.

Just having fun. No offense intended.

TrevorAyer said:

dance for me and here ... both great songs and everything out right now pales

except maybe that bullet proof song ... i love that song

the internet is the tower of babble .. all this technology has existed before and it will again and in between all of this will be washed away by those who prefer to oppress the intelligence of the mass populus

the internet has great potential but it is being regulated, controlled and manipulated far more than people are led to believe .. its no less a tool to persuade your opinion or profile your politics and threat level than the television or the secret fbi file on john lennon for singing about peace

Now you are on to something....the others are in the dark.

musicallychallenged said:

I am thinking he wants the lions share and believes his name alone makes it a good deal for a label. It brings x number of die hards, to get alot more, you have to reach more than just your die hards, via radio airplay. And he has to deliver some great music. He needs to rebuild his image, you can't just do that without some help.

Hmm. You seem to be suggesting that "delivering great music" is the key to radio airplay. Surely this isn't true. There is a lot of great music that isn't found in rotation on the radio. Also, what do you mean by "rebuild his image"?

He does well for himself, but if he wants to really be popular and everyone to enjoy his music, he needs help. Itunes wouldn't make much if he delivered them an album. Right now, being a Prince fan is like being part of a small underground, that's not mainstream and becoming less and less rememberable.

Prince has been more mainstream since 2004 than he had been in a very long time. Look at the chart success of his albums since 2004. Look at his concert grosses. I would argue that, as a brand, Prince is stronger now than he has been in a long time. Remember the mid to late 90's? That was like being a fan of an underground artist. Those were Prince's wilderness years. Since 2004 Prince has been in the mainstream in a way he hadn't been since (arguably) 1991.

I think he's trying some things and having some success, but I don't think it's the success level he's looking for. It's financially successful and somewhat of a critical success, but not a mainstream success. Everything ends up being marked way down ($4.99 for his picturebook with live CD?, Lotus flower discounted at Target, go find Emancipation etc.)

Define mainstream success. Are you thinking that Prince should be doing business like Miley Cyrus or Lady Gaga? Should he have their level of teen trendiness/popularity? I've said it before, but, except for 1984, 1991, and 2004 Prince rarely has been "everyone's favorite musician."

Also, everyone's CD's end up being marked down and are in the discount bin. That's the state of the music industry. I was at Wal-Mart and found Madonna's Celebration for $5. So what?

He must listen to the radio and wonder why he's shut out. I don't think his music of late would make much of an impact right now - no bona fide hits have been produced. He has to step up his game. Let's Go Crazy, you didn't want that song out of your head. Nothing lately measures up. Do I still believe he has it in him, yes, I think he just needs to find that drive again. Just the way I see it at the moment.

Again, you have it backwards. It doesn't take making a hit song to gain radio play, it takes radio play to make a hit song. To get radio play, you have to play the game (which is essentially what you are describing). Prince isn't going to do that because A. He wants control of his music and B. He wants to make the money off of his music.

Is it any surprise that Prince's biggest selling album ever (Purple Rain) is the one that had the most amount of people in the music/movie industry pushing the hell out of it? Sure, it happened to have some of the greatest music ever on it....but proper promotion goes a long way. Sign O' The Times and 1999 were better albums, but they didn't have the juggernaut media push that Purple Rain received. Thus, they didn't sell as well.

But hey, who knows what really motivates him? What does he really want? Maybe he doesn't want to be on top. I know this, I could really use some GREAT NEW Prince tunes right about now. Not just good and interesting Prince tunes.

What is "being on top"? Being the most popular/famous? Being the most paid? Prince makes more money off of his music nowadays than he did in the 80's. Can you imagine that? What incentive does he have to change the way he doesn things? Can a world reknowned superstar and a legend of music history somehow be "more famous"?

Sure, he could be more "trendy" and "flavor of the month", but I don't think he is in it to compete with the Ke$ha's of the world at this point....

[Edited 7/7/10 6:39am]

[Edited 7/7/10 6:40am]

[Edited 7/7/10 7:15am]

Its so fun to watch the desperate worshipers suck on Prince's chemtrails.

Ernest done schooled y'all, deal with it.

NouveauDance said:

This is just a quote from the current batch of interviews.

Basically, he can't get an advance with their business model, so it's sour grapes.

On the contrary, I would say it is good business acumen. What major artist has done more to revolutionize the business of his music distribution and sales?

funkybutt said:

NouveauDance said:

This is just a quote from the current batch of interviews.

Basically, he can't get an advance with their business model, so it's sour grapes.

On the contrary, I would say it is good business acumen. What major artist has done more to revolutionize the business of his music distribution and sales?

Don't confuse "press" with "success"...

Any publicity is good publicity?

Timmy84 said:

Any publicity is good publicity?

Yep. And, here's some more... http://www.avclub.com/art...ver,42808/

"Prince, who more than earned the right to say all the stupid shit he wants somewhere around 1982, has proclaimed the Internet to be “completely over.”

snarky yet cute article

Jatrig said:

http://blogs.chron.com/ce...com_1.html

"The Internet's completely over. I don't see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won't pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can't get it.

"The Internet's like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers and that can't be good for you."

i scan my computer lookin for a site somebody to talk to funny and bright

i scan my computer lookin for a site make believe its a better world..a better life....a better life..."

Christopher said:

Jatrig said:

http://blogs.chron.com/ce...com_1.html

i scan my computer lookin for a site somebody to talk to funny and bright

i scan my computer lookin for a site make believe its a better world..a better life....a better life..."

"Something in the water does not compute"

See, I can reference old lyrics that have nothing to do with his contemporary beliefs, too!

Whoever says that Prince is "over" is a damn fool. He makes 1 comment that was taken out of context and the whole world acts like Prince is trying to take away their supply of crack.

Alamine said:

The Internet is played out for everyone cept the Porn Industry which is what has kept the internet alive, it is what made Youtube so popular when it first started, it's what has kept facebook going: Porn

Again Prince is ahead of his time on the thought that the internet is over, over as in it has hit the ceiling

What? What does Facebook have to do with porn?

nvm lol

[Edited 7/7/10 17:14pm]

ernestsewell said:

Xibalba said:

Telling it like it is! Ernest by name, Earnest by nature.

I'm TOTALLY using that as my personal motto!

That's pretty similar to the motto my friend uses - he tells people he is frank and ernest.

In Dallas, he's known to the ladies as "Frank" and in Austin he's known to them as "Ernest".

Kind of the same thing as yours, huh?

LuneCerise said:

Its so fun to watch the desperate worshipers suck on Prince's chemtrails.

Ernest done schooled y'all, deal with it.

its so fun to watch the chemtrails topic slowly moving toward mainstream usage and awareness, popping up even in non related threads .. rise rainbow children rise

TrevorAyer said:

LuneCerise said:

Its so fun to watch the desperate worshipers suck on Prince's chemtrails.

Ernest done schooled y'all, deal with it.

its so fun to watch the chemtrails topic slowly moving toward mainstream usage and awareness, popping up even in non related threads .. rise rainbow children rise

Chemtrails conspiracy theory has been around for a very very very very very very very long time.

Spinlight said:

TrevorAyer said:

its so fun to watch the chemtrails topic slowly moving toward mainstream usage and awareness, popping up even in non related threads .. rise rainbow children rise

Chemtrails conspiracy theory has been around for a very very very very very very very long time.

Yep, it's nothing new, except to those who get their n.e.w.s. from Prince. Dick Gregory has been spitting conspiracy bullshit for years, including the chemical trails shit. I believe very little of what he says. There might be some truth in some thing, but stuff like chem trails, or "they" blew up the levees in New Orleans during Katrina is just nonsense.

RodeoSchro said:

ernestsewell said:

I'm TOTALLY using that as my personal motto!

That's pretty similar to the motto my friend uses - he tells people he is frank and ernest.

In Dallas, he's known to the ladies as "Frank" and in Austin he's known to them as "Ernest".

Kind of the same thing as yours, huh?

I met a guy at a church I used to play piano for, and he walked up to me, and said, "Hi. If you'll be earnest, I'll be frank." I knew exactly what he meant, because why else would he use my name as an adjective, if he wasn't doing the same for his name. Funny moment.

Of course there's the funny cartoon strip Frank & Ernest.

yes well we have all been here before but the point is that yall are talkin bout it more and more and more and more yeee haw .. aint on the hellavision or the newsfaker yet but with u guys on board it wont be long now ..

ernestsewell said:

Spinlight said:

Chemtrails conspiracy theory has been around for a very very very very very very very long time.

Yep, it's nothing new, except to those who get their n.e.w.s. from Prince. Dick Gregory has been spitting conspiracy bullshit for years, including the chemical trails shit. I believe very little of what he says. There might be some truth in some thing, but stuff like chem trails, or "they" blew up the levees in New Orleans during Katrina is just nonsense.

I always thought Dick was kooky. Some shit he says I can believe and then some other shit I'm like "oookay" same with Prince.

TrevorAyer said:

yes well we have all been here before but the point is that yall are talkin bout it more and more and more and more yeee haw ..

Talking about it, and making fun of it are quite different. I'm going with the latter, as are most people it seems.

ernestsewell said:

TrevorAyer said:

yes well we have all been here before but the point is that yall are talkin bout it more and more and more and more yeee haw ..

Talking about it, and making fun of it are quite different. I'm going with the latter, as are most people it seems.

My early posts were definitely making fun.

RodeoSchro said:

ernestsewell said:

I'm TOTALLY using that as my personal motto!

That's pretty similar to the motto my friend uses - he tells people he is frank and ernest.

In Dallas, he's known to the ladies as "Frank" and in Austin he's known to them as "Ernest".

Kind of the same thing as yours, huh?

Oscar Wilde would like your friends address in order to collect overdue royalties.

this is not as bad as princes managment calling all the booking angencys and letting them known that prince wants 2 million to do shows. i will keep all of you posted if anyone bites.

yeah buts ah u be sayin CHEMTRAILS not aeroplane vapor .. er whatever yall think that sheet is ... so u know what just keep sayin it and soon enuf ur mind will open like the first time u realized u need to give some prince songs more than one spin u just may change yer mind .. plus every time u mention CHEMTRAILS someone reading it wonders what its all about .. and then they can make up their own mind too ... its sooo cool keep up the good work children of the sun