We all know the Internet is dead. What do you think about the future of music distribution and how you got the new album 20Ten?

As noted in the headline, if you got it from the dead Internet, any specifics will get you a quick and viscious ban from this corner of the dead Internet...

Here's another warning in BOLD red, just to be sure. Talking about it (ie; I got it from the Internet) is just fine. Saying WHERE on the Internet or any other specifics will get you a 1 week vacation.

lolololololololololololololol

LOL, um well...

I guess, really there is so many ways to distribute music and is there really a right or wrong way or get music to people? But having said that, the internet is a very powerful tool which should be embraced..

oh my...

We don't have the album. We have mp3's. The album, with the official disc and art work is not released yet. Prince got paid in advance for the discs, probably much more than he could make by offering downloads.

I got a link from a friend. I'm sure, in these early hours of this leak, we all got it more or less from the same people, somewhere along the line.

The newspaper industry is a dying one, just like terrestrial radio and physical music sales. However, none of three will ever die an absolute death. No matter how promising or successful blogs/online formats (in the case of newspapers), satelitte radio/Pandora (in the case of terrestrial radio), or digital/alternative sales/pirating (in the case of physical music sales) may be, there will always be a market for their older, gray, smelly counterparts.

You may see a man reading off of an Amazon Kindle on the train to work. But you'll probably see many more reading newspapers. Truth is, the majority of those newspapers are free, like the Metro, and rely heavily on advertising to support the cost of a 5-day-a-week paper. Still, that is a solid market that isn't going anywhere.

The same can be said of terrestrial radio (people on the morning/afternoon drive) and physical music sales (those who just plain like holding the music they're listening too as well as those who aren't willing/able to transition to digital formats). In a sense, all three involve a bit of a captive audience.

Still, a captive audience is an audience.

SO with 20Ten, and with Planet Earth, there are captive audiences. Morning commuters. Old (fashioned) people who like their news on paper. Those suffering from a delay at the airport or train station and needing something quick and cheap to read. Plus, from what I can tell, these papers are all a bit rag-y, and who doesn't love those once in a while?

In addition to those captive audiences, there are dedicated audiences. Like us. Or people who just dig hearing new music in random places. To top it off, there are the multitude of citizens whose interest in Prince has been re-awakened (for better or for worse) thanks to all the recent activity involving award shows, the internet, this newspaper deal, and so on.

To me, Prince's chosen method is commendable, but flawed. There should be some sort of complimentary offer online. Putting his statement about the internet aside, offering some sort of digital version for a same or lesser price would increase distribution and at least slightly decrease piracy. Those of us in the US, it seems, have no choice but to pirate 20Ten until our European friends send us some mail. By offering the album online, perhaps with a few extra songs, maybe even on these newspapers' websites, Prince would greatly increase the potential audience.

For that matter, why not a tie-in with US newspapers?

Further, some sort of US distribution deal HAS to be revealed before it's too late. I think it is pretty well established that Prince doesn't really care about commercial success anymore, but with any artist even close to his stature in music, not releasing an album in the US is unheard of. Sure, Japan often gets CDs with bonus tracks, but that's generally because CDs in Japan are fucking expensive. If this Prince/WB thing pans out to some sort of distribution plan for 20Ten, this could serve to be a very successful album.

Long post short: Good method, flawed execution, great album.

[Edited 7/8/10 21:20pm]

newspaper, radio etc is only staying alive because they are focusing on non traditional revenue which = INTERNET.

[Edited 7/8/10 21:24pm]

CerpinTaxt said:

I got a link from a friend. I'm sure, in these early hours of this leak, we all got it more or less from the same people, somewhere along the line.

The newspaper industry is a dying one, just like terrestrial radio and physical music sales. However, none of three will ever die an absolute death. No matter how promising or successful blogs/online formats (in the case of newspapers), satelitte radio/Pandora (in the case of terrestrial radio), or digital/alternative sales/pirating (in the case of physical music sales) may be, there will always be a market for their older, gray, smelly counterparts.

You may see a man reading off of an Amazon Kindle on the train to work. But you'll probably see many more reading newspapers. Truth is, the majority of those newspapers are free, like the Metro, and rely heavily on advertising to support the cost of a 5-day-a-week paper. Still, that is a solid market that isn't going anywhere.

The same can be said of terrestrial radio (people on the morning/afternoon drive) and physical music sales (those who just plain like holding the music they're listening too as well as those who aren't willing/able to transition to digital formats). In a sense, all three involve a bit of a captive audience.

Still, a captive audience is an audience.

SO with 20Ten, and with Planet Earth, there are captive audiences. Morning commuters. Old (fashioned) people who like their news on paper. Those suffering from a delay at the airport or train station and needing something quick and cheap to read. Plus, from what I can tell, these papers are all a bit rag-y, and who doesn't love those once in a while?

In addition to those captive audiences, there are dedicated audiences. Like us. Or people who just dig hearing new music in random places. To top it off, there are the multitude of citizens whose interest in Prince has been re-awakened (for better or for worse) thanks to all the recent activity involving award shows, the internet, this newspaper deal, and so on.

To me, Prince's chosen method is commendable, but flawed. There should be some sort of complimentary offer online. Putting his statement about the internet aside, offering some sort of digital version for a same or lesser price would increase distribution and at least slightly decrease piracy. Those of us in the US, it seems, have no choice but to pirate 20Ten until our European friends send us some mail. By offering the album online, perhaps with a few extra songs, maybe even on these newspapers' websites, Prince would greatly increase the potential audience.

For that matter, why not a tie-in with US newspapers?

Further, some sort of US distribution deal HAS to be revealed before it's too late. I think it is pretty well established that Prince doesn't really care about commercial success anymore, but with any artist even close to his stature in music, not releasing an album in the US is unheard of. Sure, Japan often gets CDs with bonus tracks, but that's generally because CDs in Japan are fucking expensive. If this Prince/WB thing works out, this could serve to be a very successful album.

Long post short: Good method, flawed execution, great album.

I'm liking your thoughts, but it was too late to announce a US distribution deal about 24 hours ago, and that would have been a last minute thing that still would have felt the sting of the dead Internet.

As good as the album is, I think the distribution deal is incredibly dumb unless he is truly only concerned about being "#1 at the bank". Even that is based on assumptions of up-front money.

yeah no specifics but couldn't find it on any torrent sites or usenet...finally went to a somewhat private message board that had a link...thank you dude.

-edit-

thanks!

[Edited 7/8/10 21:40pm]

Poor Prince.

What happened today with this leak is going to be all over the net tomorrow morning, and the press is going to have a little more fun at his expense.

At least he keeps everybody entertained right?

I think the method serves his purposes of getting paid up front and not having to put much money, time or effort into promotion. Whether that is an incentive to release quality music is debatable. By this method, he can pretty much throw anything together and release it with miminal risk. The papers will give it favorable reviews because it's linked to their publication.

Since he knows the album will get leaked/shared, this way he need not be too concerned about it. This way, he gets the $ while everyone else involved assumes the risk and responsibility of getting the music promoted and distributed.

It makes me question how successfully it would have sold by more conventional means.

violetblues said:

Poor Prince.

What happened today with this leak is going to be all over the net tomorrow morning, and the press is going to have a little more fun at his expense.

At least he keeps everybody entertained right?

Yeah but I think he can only hope that if he puts it in American stores that a good portion buy it. I may just buy it but for the booklet. I probably would've gotten into the album more then again maybe not. Two, three listens, then next.

babynoz said:

I think the method serves his purposes of getting paid up front and not having to put much money, time or effort into promotion. Whether that is an incentive to release quality music is debatable. By this method, he can pretty much throw anything together and release it with miminal risk. The papers will give it favorable reviews because it's linked to their publication.

Since he knows the album will get leaked/shared, this way he need not be too concerned about it. This way, he gets the $ while everyone else involved assumes the risk and responsibility of getting the music promoted and distributed.

It makes me question how successfully it would have sold by more conventional means.

I completely agree.

I think he outsmarted the system actually, as we have seen today the internet is dead as a marketplace for music. I mean to "sell" music

Prince was paid in advance in advance as he probably knew today's inevitable would happen.

Apple uses itunes as a loss leader to sell hawk their products, and most artists are not completely happy with itunes compensation, and most people find it too easy not to get it free instead.

I think Prince did the right thing, and this was a win win situation for everybody all around.

It turned out he is not "that" crazy after all.

"leak" or not, I'm still gonna buy it on CD ... LoL

I'm cool with it being in the paper. Next time release a new album in the Star Tribune and smack CJ on the ass with it ... LoL

[Edited 7/8/10 22:07pm]

Timmy84 said:

violetblues said:

Poor Prince.

What happened today with this leak is going to be all over the net tomorrow morning, and the press is going to have a little more fun at his expense.

At least he keeps everybody entertained right?

Yeah but I think he can only hope that if he puts it in American stores that a good portion buy it. I may just buy it but for the booklet. I probably would've gotten into the album more then again maybe not. Two, three listens, then next.

I was just teasing him, i think he actually did the right thing, except he probably should have set worldwide distribution scheme because the web is so leaky.

violetblues said:

babynoz said:

I think the method serves his purposes of getting paid up front and not having to put much money, time or effort into promotion. Whether that is an incentive to release quality music is debatable. By this method, he can pretty much throw anything together and release it with miminal risk. The papers will give it favorable reviews because it's linked to their publication.

Since he knows the album will get leaked/shared, this way he need not be too concerned about it. This way, he gets the $ while everyone else involved assumes the risk and responsibility of getting the music promoted and distributed.

It makes me question how successfully it would have sold by more conventional means.

I completely agree.

I think he outsmarted the system actually, as we have seen today the internet is dead as a marketplace for music. I mean to "sell" music

Prince was paid in advance in advance as he probably knew today's inevitable would happen.

Apple uses itunes as a loss leader to sell hawk their products, and most artists are not completely happy with itunes compensation, and most people find it too easy not to get it free instead.

I think Prince did the right thing, and this was a win win situation for everybody all around.

It turned out he is not "that" crazy after all.

It was probably the best option open to him given the circumstances. Ironic that those of us in the US will have to order the paper online though.

violetblues said:

Timmy84 said:

Yeah but I think he can only hope that if he puts it in American stores that a good portion buy it. I may just buy it but for the booklet. I probably would've gotten into the album more then again maybe not. Two, three listens, then next.

I was just teasing him, i think he actually did the right thing, except he probably should have set worldwide distribution scheme because the web is so leaky.

Well he would've had a problem with that anyways...lol I think he tried to find a good scheme it just didn't work the way he wanted it to I guess.

The dead Internet.
100.0%

The Newspaper, of course.
0.0%

Purple Yoda transmitted it to me through midichloreans. The REAL future of music distribution.
0.0%

After 1 votes cast

babynoz said:

violetblues said:

I completely agree.

I think he outsmarted the system actually, as we have seen today the internet is dead as a marketplace for music. I mean to "sell" music

Prince was paid in advance in advance as he probably knew today's inevitable would happen.

Apple uses itunes as a loss leader to sell hawk their products, and most artists are not completely happy with itunes compensation, and most people find it too easy not to get it free instead.

I think Prince did the right thing, and this was a win win situation for everybody all around.

It turned out he is not "that" crazy after all.

It was probably the best option open to him given the circumstances. Ironic that those of us in the US will have to order the paper online though.

You mean ironic that they already have it two days before its release.

I got the mp3s from a fellow orger via email..and then I kept the forward going.

PurpleLove7 said:

"leak" or not, I'm still gonna buy it on CD ... LoL

Same here. I'd be silly not to buy this one.

squirrelgrease said:

The dead Internet.
100.0%

The Newspaper, of course.
0.0%

Purple Yoda transmitted it to me through midichloreans. The REAL future of music distribution.
0.0%

After 1 votes cast

[Snip - Mars23]

So ridiculous that it has come to this with his career.

Haven't got it at all yet, as it seems to be very illusive. However I'm waiting anxiously for the forthcoming Taiwanese release. It shouldn't be too much longer, I think they got Purple Rain in a few weeks back, so any day now...

Spinlight said:

I found it on Google, lol.

So ridiculous that it has come to this with his career.

[Snip - Mars23]

Timmy84 said:

Spinlight said:

I found it on Google, lol.

So ridiculous that it has come to this with his career.

You were able to find the album on Google?

[Snip - Mars23]

let me just say i have it, and i love it!