If you go to the WB website, you'll see they sell "Purple Rain" (vinyl only), "Come", "Diamonds and Pearls", Very Best of", "Graffiti Bridge" and "Batman".

What I'm hoping is happening, is that the record labels are now going to discuss selling the master tapes back to the artists. Warner Brothers makes its money off of Harry Potter and Twilight, not Prince downloads.

I don't feel Warner Bros/Reprise can do anything more with the back catalog... all the hits collections they could possibly concoct, they have. But I am hoping at some point, Prince is able to have all the recordings owned, re-released under one label, and remastered. But by then, the next "big thing" might be artists putting their entire catalog in Blu-Ray, and being able to include a "digital copy" to listen to on your portable players. Something like Prince's vaults and unreleased footage, videos, etc are best served for Blu Ray.

It's better if someone lends one or two people a copy to make their Prince mix, than it is one person posting it to thousands of people on a file share site.

Very few artists make money off of recordings unless it winds up being doled out to a soundtrack or covered. They're lucky to break even.

GustavoRibas said:

And they complain about filesharing...

Right!

The answer to the reason For You is out-of-print has just been revealed right here: http://prince.org/msg/7/3...sg_7714867

Prince now owns it. Expect the Prince CD and Dirty Mind (and Controversy in 2011) to go the way of the Dodo as well.

I think future generations will most likely only know about the best-of-the-best Prince albums (by general consensus): Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT.

The protege albums, one-off projects and Internet-only stuff will fade away from the public consciousness as his original fans get older and eventually die off.

He won't be constantly re-discovered by new generations as much as The Beatles or Jimi Hendrix are, which is a shame.

shame shame! probably my fave cd of his!

Se7en said:

I think future generations will most likely only know about the best-of-the-best Prince albums (by general consensus): Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT.

The protege albums, one-off projects and Internet-only stuff will fade away from the public consciousness as his original fans get older and eventually die off.

He won't be constantly re-discovered by new generations as much as The Beatles or Jimi Hendrix are, which is a shame.

That makes no sense. How does "For You" not being available for purchase stop future generateions from rediscovering him like Hendrix/Beatles?

Especially if the albums you say are his best are available?

Furthermore, P will eventually own the masters and re release remastered versions....

PRINCE now owns the MASTER......along with the 1979 PRINCE RELEASE and DIRTY MIND.....

tuztones said:

tuztones said:

PRINCE now owns the MASTER......along with the 1979 PRINCE RELEASE and DIRTY MIND.....

yes

thepope2the9s said:

Se7en said:

I think future generations will most likely only know about the best-of-the-best Prince albums (by general consensus): Dirty Mind, 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT.

The protege albums, one-off projects and Internet-only stuff will fade away from the public consciousness as his original fans get older and eventually die off.

He won't be constantly re-discovered by new generations as much as The Beatles or Jimi Hendrix are, which is a shame.

That makes no sense. How does "For You" not being available for purchase stop future generateions from rediscovering him like Hendrix/Beatles?

Especially if the albums you say are his best are available?

Furthermore, P will eventually own the masters and re release remastered versions....

Because The Beatles never go out of print and know how to market themselves. They keep releasing stuff like Live At The BBC, the Anthology CD's & DVD's, Let It Be... Naked, Love, 1, remastered albums, etc. Also Paul, Ringo, Yoko Ono, & Olivia Harrison don't delete videos from Youtube or try to shut down their fan clubs. It also helps that people keep writing books about the group and the media constantly puts out articles or shows them on TV. Hardly anyone writes anything about Prince or show him on TV. The Hendrix family also release endless Jimi material and markets merchandise with his image. Prince doesn't do this, so he's more likely to be forgotten to the general public unlike his contemporaries like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, & Michael Jackson.

MickyDolenz said:

thepope2the9s said:

That makes no sense. How does "For You" not being available for purchase stop future generateions from rediscovering him like Hendrix/Beatles?

Especially if the albums you say are his best are available?

Furthermore, P will eventually own the masters and re release remastered versions....

Because The Beatles never go out of print and know how to market themselves. They keep releasing stuff like Live At The BBC, the Anthology CD's & DVD's, Let It Be... Naked, Love, 1, remastered albums, etc. Also Paul, Ringo, Yoko Ono, & Olivia Harrison don't delete videos from Youtube or try to shut down their fan clubs. It also helps that people keep writing books about the group and the media constantly puts out articles or shows them on TV. Hardly anyone writes anything about Prince or show him on TV. The Hendrix family also release endless Jimi material and markets merchandise with his image. Prince doesn't do this, so he's more likely to be forgotten to the general public unlike his contemporaries like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, & Michael Jackson.

^ do you think the powers that be in Purpledom are paying attention??

prodigalfan said:

MickyDolenz said:

Because The Beatles never go out of print and know how to market themselves. They keep releasing stuff like Live At The BBC, the Anthology CD's & DVD's, Let It Be... Naked, Love, 1, remastered albums, etc. Also Paul, Ringo, Yoko Ono, & Olivia Harrison don't delete videos from Youtube or try to shut down their fan clubs. It also helps that people keep writing books about the group and the media constantly puts out articles or shows them on TV. Hardly anyone writes anything about Prince or show him on TV. The Hendrix family also release endless Jimi material and markets merchandise with his image. Prince doesn't do this, so he's more likely to be forgotten to the general public unlike his contemporaries like Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, & Michael Jackson.

^ do you think the powers that be in Purpledom are paying attention??

Even if he has, Prince has never had the same kind of popularity as The Beatles. They're a brand. Look at the remasters and the Rock Band video game from last year. Other than his hardcore fanbase, not many people would be interested in buying most Prince albums (remastered or not), other than Purple Rain, a hits compilation, and maybe 1999. To the mainstream public, Prince is an 80's act like Journey or Van Halen. He's not really considered contemporary today like U2 or Madonna. Prince has enough popularity to make money touring, but basically he's like The Rolling Stones or The Eagles, most people are going to his show to see him perform old hits, not newer stuff. A big budget "oldies but goodies" act, lol. Prince does do the aftershows in clubs, but the mainstream "hits only" audience doesn't go to those. He's not really building a younger audience. The Beatles, Elvis, & Michael Jackson are passed down generation to generation. Most of the subject matter in their music is clean, and that also helps them sell with people who wouldn't consider listening to songs like Sister, Darling Nikki, & Sexy MF.

MickyDolenz said:

prodigalfan said:

^ do you think the powers that be in Purpledom are paying attention??

Even if he has, Prince has never had the same kind of popularity as The Beatles. They're a brand.

That pretty much says it all.

MickyDolenz said:

prodigalfan said:

^ do you think the powers that be in Purpledom are paying attention??

Even if he has, Prince has never had the same kind of popularity as The Beatles. They're a brand. Look at the remasters and the Rock Band video game from last year. Other than his hardcore fanbase, not many people would be interested in buying most Prince albums (remastered or not), other than Purple Rain, a hits compilation, and maybe 1999. To the mainstream public, Prince is an 80's act like Journey or Van Halen. He's not really considered contemporary today like U2 or Madonna. Prince has enough popularity to make money touring, but basically he's like The Rolling Stones or The Eagles, most people are going to his show to see him perform old hits, not newer stuff. A big budget "oldies but goodies" act, lol. Prince does do the aftershows in clubs, but the mainstream "hits only" audience doesn't go to those. He's not really building a younger audience. The Beatles, Elvis, & Michael Jackson are passed down generation to generation. Most of the subject matter in their music is clean, and that also helps them sell with people who wouldn't consider listening to songs like Sister, Darling Nikki, & Sexy MF.

Prince does have a younger fan base. And didnt michael jackson also mainly perform the "hits" in most of his concerts?

MickyDolenz said:

prodigalfan said:

^ do you think the powers that be in Purpledom are paying attention??

Even if he has, Prince has never had the same kind of popularity as The Beatles. They're a brand. Look at the remasters and the Rock Band video game from last year. Other than his hardcore fanbase, not many people would be interested in buying most Prince albums (remastered or not), other than Purple Rain, a hits compilation, and maybe 1999. To the mainstream public, Prince is an 80's act like Journey or Van Halen. He's not really considered contemporary today like U2 or Madonna. Prince has enough popularity to make money touring, but basically he's like The Rolling Stones or The Eagles, most people are going to his show to see him perform old hits, not newer stuff. A big budget "oldies but goodies" act, lol. Prince does do the aftershows in clubs, but the mainstream "hits only" audience doesn't go to those. He's not really building a younger audience. The Beatles, Elvis, & Michael Jackson are passed down generation to generation. Most of the subject matter in their music is clean, and that also helps them sell with people who wouldn't consider listening to songs like Sister, Darling Nikki, & Sexy MF.

I don't think Michael Jackson worked on gaining new fans 10 years ago. That "Invincible" cover alone scared kids off.

I disagree as far as the popularity part goes - in 1985, Prince as a contemporary performer was prob. more popular than the Beatles were in 1964, and "Purple Rain" was a slightly better movie than "A Hard Days Night", and def. better than McCartney's "Give My Regards to Broad Street", which was released in 84.

Simple question... in 1985, could Prince have sold out Shea Stadium?

Van Halen with Roth back in the band made close to 100 million 3 years ago. That was just touring the US and Canada. Journey with Arnel plays arenas, unheard of for a 70s rock act.

hhhhdmt said:

MickyDolenz said:

Even if he has, Prince has never had the same kind of popularity as The Beatles. They're a brand. Look at the remasters and the Rock Band video game from last year. Other than his hardcore fanbase, not many people would be interested in buying most Prince albums (remastered or not), other than Purple Rain, a hits compilation, and maybe 1999. To the mainstream public, Prince is an 80's act like Journey or Van Halen. He's not really considered contemporary today like U2 or Madonna. Prince has enough popularity to make money touring, but basically he's like The Rolling Stones or The Eagles, most people are going to his show to see him perform old hits, not newer stuff. A big budget "oldies but goodies" act, lol. Prince does do the aftershows in clubs, but the mainstream "hits only" audience doesn't go to those. He's not really building a younger audience. The Beatles, Elvis, & Michael Jackson are passed down generation to generation. Most of the subject matter in their music is clean, and that also helps them sell with people who wouldn't consider listening to songs like Sister, Darling Nikki, & Sexy MF.

Prince does have a younger fan base. And didnt michael jackson also mainly perform the "hits" in most of his concerts?

It's still not like The Beatles. Mike did perform only hits, but he was all about hits and showbiz. The Thriller and Bad albums are like "greatest hits" albums themselves. Anyway, Mike hadn't performed since the mid 90's, and hasn't toured the US since the Bad tour in the 1980's. I didn't say Prince doesn't have a young audience at all, but that he's not actively building one per se. The Beatles are everywhere. They have a Cirque Du Soleil show (and so does Elvis and there's a Michael Jackson one being planned), their music is in commercials, TV shows, and movies. There's been literally thousands of different books about them over the years. I see them on magazine covers all the time. They have "action figures", toys, T-shirts, sheets, a Monopoly board game, etc. So they're constantly getting new fans with every generation. Look at the tours Paul McCartney does now. Most of the show is Beatle songs and not as much solo or Wings material. Before the 1990's, Paul avoided performing Beatle tunes. Prince's music is not everywhere and neither is his likeness, and his tendency to block his music from the internet is not helping his case. He is not in the media or played on the radio as much as The Beatles or Michael Jackson. The Prince songs that are played a lot are Purple Rain era, and a few others like Kiss. But they're mostly only on the 1980's oldies stations. They're not in movies or commercials. Prince's songs are not remade nowhere near as much as the Beatles are. Few people sample his music, if at all. So unless someone is actually seeking Prince out or maybe someone's parents plays his music, he's not being heard in as many places like the The Beatles or Michael Jackson/J5/Jacksons are. So he is not building a younger audience.

dalsh327 said:

MickyDolenz said:

Even if he has, Prince has never had the same kind of popularity as The Beatles. They're a brand. Look at the remasters and the Rock Band video game from last year. Other than his hardcore fanbase, not many people would be interested in buying most Prince albums (remastered or not), other than Purple Rain, a hits compilation, and maybe 1999. To the mainstream public, Prince is an 80's act like Journey or Van Halen. He's not really considered contemporary today like U2 or Madonna. Prince has enough popularity to make money touring, but basically he's like The Rolling Stones or The Eagles, most people are going to his show to see him perform old hits, not newer stuff. A big budget "oldies but goodies" act, lol. Prince does do the aftershows in clubs, but the mainstream "hits only" audience doesn't go to those. He's not really building a younger audience. The Beatles, Elvis, & Michael Jackson are passed down generation to generation. Most of the subject matter in their music is clean, and that also helps them sell with people who wouldn't consider listening to songs like Sister, Darling Nikki, & Sexy MF.

I don't think Michael Jackson worked on gaining new fans 10 years ago. That "Invincible" cover alone scared kids off.

I disagree as far as the popularity part goes - in 1985, Prince as a contemporary performer was prob. more popular than the Beatles were in 1964, and "Purple Rain" was a slightly better movie than "A Hard Days Night", and def. better than McCartney's "Give My Regards to Broad Street", which was released in 84.

Simple question... in 1985, could Prince have sold out Shea Stadium?

Van Halen with Roth back in the band made close to 100 million 3 years ago. That was just touring the US and Canada. Journey with Arnel plays arenas, unheard of for a 70s rock act.

But Van Halen performed no new songs just like The Police and Genesis didn't, so like I said with Prince & The Stones, it's a nostalgia audience that just wanted to hear the hits. Plus there's been a demand a long time for Diamond Dave to return to Van Halen (although Michael Anthony was missing). I don't think it would have been as big if it was with Sammy Hagar or if they had performed only new songs that nobody knew.

MickyDolenz said:

hhhhdmt said:

Prince does have a younger fan base. And didnt michael jackson also mainly perform the "hits" in most of his concerts?

It's still not like The Beatles. Mike did perform only hits, but he was all about hits and showbiz. The Thriller and Bad albums are like "greatest hits" albums themselves. Anyway, Mike hadn't performed since the mid 90's, and hasn't toured the US since the Bad tour in the 1980's. I didn't say Prince doesn't have a young audience at all, but that he's not actively building one per se. The Beatles are everywhere. They have a Cirque Du Soleil show (and so does Elvis and there's a Michael Jackson one being planned), their music is in commercials, TV shows, and movies. There's been literally thousands of different books about them over the years. I see them on magazine covers all the time. They have "action figures", toys, T-shirts, sheets, a Monopoly board game, etc. So they're constantly getting new fans with every generation. Look at the tours Paul McCartney does now. Most of the show is Beatle songs and not as much solo or Wings material. Before the 1990's, Paul avoided performing Beatle tunes. Prince's music is not everywhere and neither is his likeness, and his tendency to block his music from the internet is not helping his case. He is not in the media or played on the radio as much as The Beatles or Michael Jackson. The Prince songs that are played a lot are Purple Rain era, and a few others like Kiss. But they're mostly only on the 1980's oldies stations. They're not in movies or commercials. Prince's songs are not remade nowhere near as much as the Beatles are. Few people sample his music, if at all. So unless someone is actually seeking Prince out or maybe someone's parents plays his music, he's not being heard in as many places like the The Beatles or Michael Jackson/J5/Jacksons are. So he is not building a younger audience.

Fair enough. Prince should try and build a bigger fan base, i agree. Starting his own facebook and youtube pages would certainly help lol. He's just such a private person though.