squirrelgrease said:

Se7en said:

Does anyone have the Open Letter To Madonna? Where Prince asked her to help him get his masters back by using her influence at WB?

THAT was one of Prince's cringe-worthy antics that you don't hear much about anymore.

[Edited 1/23/11 4:24am]

Jan 19 1999 2:00 PM EST

The Artist Asks Madonna For Help In Label Dispute

The Artist, who in his previous incarnation as Prince recorded the hit "1999," which was undoubtedly played at many a New Year's Eve party recently, has taken to the web to make a rather unusual plea.

Last week on his official Love 4 One Another website (www.love4oneanother)*, the Artist posted an open letter to Madonna in which he asked for her assistance in dealing with his former label, Warner Bros. The Artist is hoping to get the label to return the ownership of all the master recordings he made for Warner Bros., dating back to his 1978 debut, "For You," and has requested that Madonna become involved in the dispute.

In the message Prince goes on to describe, in rather florid language, a dream he had in which he asks Madonna for her at this year's Grammy ceremonies. Ten years ago, Madonna and Prince collaborated on "Love Song," a track that was included on her "Like a Prayer" album.

The ownership rights to Prince's back catalog has become issue in the last few months, as both Warner Bros. and the Artist have released new versions of his "1999" single, which was originally issued in 1982.

Madonna hasn't responded to Prince's request yet, but we'll keep you posted.

-mtv.com

*January 1999

Madonna: artist 2 artist, eye am sure u understand the connection eye feel
2 my music. U more than any1 at Time Warner knows the patience and care
with which we give birth 2 creation... and u maybe moreso than any1 knows
how much a new artist longs 2 find a place amongst "the chosen few" 2
flaunt those creations (and at the same time put food on one's table).
Music lawyers, managers and execs make deals best suited 4 their futures
as well as urs in most cases... OWNERSHIP OF MASTER RECORDINGS IS ALMOST
NEVER AN ISSUE! (let's remember, it was 1978!)

Eye dreamt of u and eye at the Grammy Awards and felt a need 2 write this
letter 2 u. In my dream, eye approached u and asked u if u remembered me,
and u said "sure"... u were on ur way up 2 receive 1 of numerous awards u
will no doubt receive that night, and eye asked u 2 help me with my fight
2 retain ownership of my legacy and u said, "eye don't own ur masters,
Time Warner does... if it was my company, u could have them."

"But eye say 2 u, dear sister, it IS ur company as long as u remain in
their graces... 4 all Artists, Madonna, make a stand 4 what is RIGHT...
surely they will listen 2 u!" In the dream u seemed 2 feel me and yet u
were a bit non-committal... so as u approached the podium, eye followed u,
and as we stood side by side, eye said, "b glad this a commercial break!"
and eye walked offstage and looked 4 Wyclef. Interpretations aside, artist
2 artist, "U Can Help Us... and eye know u will becuz u REMEMBER ME."

Thanks Squirrel - I knew I could count on you. And yes, I cringed again when I just read that, after all these years.

DaphneLovesPR1NCE said:

Rinluv said:

I would believe her when in 1994 she said that Prince wouldnt eat at a dinner date. Because all of us know that in 1994 Prince was SKIN AND BONES..

1994 Come era? He wasn't skin and bones for all of that time. HE probably just didn't want to eat in front of her. Or maybe he wasn't hungry. Madonna is just a bitch! I can't stand her!!

Nah im talking about right before and during the Gold Experience era. When he was really pale and skinny.

I agree w/P I wouldn't talk 2 that bitch either. She could have helped him, herself & other artists! It's funny how Prince is "scheming" because he asked for the help of a label-mate & a supposed to be friend. I lost alot of respect 4 her after that. Then I found out that he is on more than just 1 Madonna track. Does any1 know if she owns her masters? Either way it goes it was a punk move on her part! I gotcho back P!!!! He shoulda made another song called Stank-Ass Friends 4 Sale (lmao)

BEAUGARDE said:

I agree w/P I wouldn't talk 2 that bitch either. She could have helped him, herself & other artists! It's funny how Prince is "scheming" because he asked for the help of a label-mate & a supposed to be friend. I lost alot of respect 4 her after that.

You lost respect for her because she didn't respond to some obscure open letter on an obscure website by an artist who, at that time, was rather obscure himself? When, in fact, he may not have even written it himself? We did have telephones and email in 1999.

errant said:

BEAUGARDE said:

I agree w/P I wouldn't talk 2 that bitch either. She could have helped him, herself & other artists! It's funny how Prince is "scheming" because he asked for the help of a label-mate & a supposed to be friend. I lost alot of respect 4 her after that.

You lost respect for her because she didn't respond to some obscure open letter on an obscure website by an artist who, at that time, was rather obscure himself? When, in fact, he may not have even written it himself? We did have telephones and email in 1999.

www.love4oneanother.com/1999

Prince said:

Telephones and email are dead.

rap said:

Dreamer2 said:

Err...no because it did not happen...

oh really

BEAUGARDE said:

I agree w/P I wouldn't talk 2 that bitch either. She could have helped him, herself & other artists! It's funny how Prince is "scheming" because he asked for the help of a label-mate & a supposed to be friend. I lost alot of respect 4 her after that. Then I found out that he is on more than just 1 Madonna track. Does any1 know if she owns her masters? Either way it goes it was a punk move on her part! I gotcho back P!!!! He shoulda made another song called Stank-Ass Friends 4 Sale (lmao)

Seriously,what could Madonna have done? Although she has alot of power in the industry,I doubt that she could have forced Warners to give Prince what he wanted.If Prince had not behaved like a spoiled brat,he might have been able to negotiate with Warners on his own and get what he wanted.

Madonna had power & clout, he wanted her 2 use it! Yeah P should have found another route. You'all think he is obscured for trying to get his masters, something is definately wrong with some of u assholes! I'm glad he put his message 2 her in an open-letter so that we can see what type of person she is. You'all make it seem like he's in the wrong but he's not. Just went about it the wrong way.

BEAUGARDE said:

Madonna had power & clout, he wanted her 2 use it! Yeah P should have found another route. You'all think he is obscured for trying to get his masters, something is definately wrong with some of u assholes! I'm glad he put his message 2 her in an open-letter so that we can see what type of person she is. You'all make it seem like he's in the wrong but he's not. Just went about it the wrong way.

Yes, but you're blaming her for not responding to a post on the internet. That's insane.

There's always going to be rivalries between artists, but I doubt this was a real feud.

I guess the biggest problem artists had with WB was when they merged with Time, and since Bronfman Jr bought them and incorporated them into Universal, there's been mixed feelings about it. Madonna works for Live Nation, and I have no idea how that's going to work as far as putting new music out. She put out a career retrospective, so maybe she's not doing new music for now. Even though I think she's going to find a way to work with Lady Gaga, because there's a ton of comparisons between the two of them, and her daughter's a fan.

Van Halen just renewed their association with Warners (their publishing at least), and working on a new album. I think some artists figure it's better to let someone else manage the back catalog and master tapes, but with Prince gaining his masters by the year, at least has the choice to distribute with any record label or put it out on his own.

So right now, he has control over the first 3-4 albums, and all his work over the past 15-16 years. I heard Kara DioGuardi after Idol has become one of the WB execs, so maybe she's going to figure out how much the master tapes are going to cost for Prince to buy back, or work something out where he gets them back sooner than later. They've already put out more than enough greatest hits albums to be content.

I'M BLAMING HER 4 NOT RESPONDING 2 A FRIEND IN NEED (A FOLLOW MUSICIAN, LABEL MATE, ARTIST). SHE HAD EVERY RIGHT 2 DO WHAT SHE DID & I JUST HAVEN'T CARED 2 MUCH 4 HER SINCE. MADONNA WAS 1 OF MY FAVORITES & I JUST LOST A LOT OF RESPECT 4 HER, I STILL LIKE HER GREATEST HITS THO (LMAO)

dalsh327 said:

There's always going to be rivalries between artists, but I doubt this was a real feud.

I guess the biggest problem artists had with WB was when they merged with Time, and since Bronfman Jr bought them and incorporated them into Universal, there's been mixed feelings about it. Madonna works for Live Nation, and I have no idea how that's going to work as far as putting new music out. She put out a career retrospective, so maybe she's not doing new music for now. Even though I think she's going to find a way to work with Lady Gaga, because there's a ton of comparisons between the two of them, and her daughter's a fan.

Van Halen just renewed their association with Warners (their publishing at least), and working on a new album. I think some artists figure it's better to let someone else manage the back catalog and master tapes, but with Prince gaining his masters by the year, at least has the choice to distribute with any record label or put it out on his own.

So right now, he has control over the first 3-4 albums, and all his work over the past 15-16 years. I heard Kara DioGuardi after Idol has become one of the WB execs, so maybe she's going to figure out how much the master tapes are going to cost for Prince to buy back, or work something out where he gets them back sooner than later. They've already put out more than enough greatest hits albums to be content.

He needs to get the masters to Purple Rain! That was the real money maker for Warner Bros for a long time and that's probably the last one they will give to him, if they give him that one. I mean he probably would get the masters for Parade and 1999 before that but yeah give him the ownership for Purple Rain.

Speaking of master recordings, does Madonna owns her own stuff?

squirrelgrease said:

*January 1999

Madonna: artist 2 artist, eye am sure u understand the connection eye feel
2 my music. U more than any1 at Time Warner knows the patience and care
with which we give birth 2 creation... and u maybe moreso than any1 knows
how much a new artist longs 2 find a place amongst "the chosen few" 2
flaunt those creations (and at the same time put food on one's table).
Music lawyers, managers and execs make deals best suited 4 their futures
as well as urs in most cases... OWNERSHIP OF MASTER RECORDINGS IS ALMOST
NEVER AN ISSUE! (let's remember, it was 1978!)

Eye dreamt of u and eye at the Grammy Awards and felt a need 2 write this
letter 2 u. In my dream, eye approached u and asked u if u remembered me,
and u said "sure"... u were on ur way up 2 receive 1 of numerous awards u
will no doubt receive that night, and eye asked u 2 help me with my fight
2 retain ownership of my legacy and u said, "eye don't own ur masters,
Time Warner does... if it was my company, u could have them."

"But eye say 2 u, dear sister, it IS ur company as long as u remain in
their graces... 4 all Artists, Madonna, make a stand 4 what is RIGHT...
surely they will listen 2 u!" In the dream u seemed 2 feel me and yet u
were a bit non-committal... so as u approached the podium, eye followed u,
and as we stood side by side, eye said, "b glad this a commercial break!"
and eye walked offstage and looked 4 Wyclef. Interpretations aside, artist
2 artist, "U Can Help Us... and eye know u will becuz u REMEMBER ME."

Wow that must be the most humble & desperate letter that Prince ever wrote !!

"Do U Remember Me ??? " WTF!

squirrelgrease said:

*January 1999

Madonna: artist 2 artist, eye am sure u understand the connection eye feel
2 my music. U more than any1 at Time Warner knows the patience and care
with which we give birth 2 creation... and u maybe moreso than any1 knows
how much a new artist longs 2 find a place amongst "the chosen few" 2
flaunt those creations (and at the same time put food on one's table).
Music lawyers, managers and execs make deals best suited 4 their futures
as well as urs in most cases... OWNERSHIP OF MASTER RECORDINGS IS ALMOST
NEVER AN ISSUE! (let's remember, it was 1978!)

Eye dreamt of u and eye at the Grammy Awards and felt a need 2 write this
letter 2 u. In my dream, eye approached u and asked u if u remembered me,
and u said "sure"... u were on ur way up 2 receive 1 of numerous awards u
will no doubt receive that night, and eye asked u 2 help me with my fight
2 retain ownership of my legacy and u said, "eye don't own ur masters,
Time Warner does... if it was my company, u could have them."

"But eye say 2 u, dear sister, it IS ur company as long as u remain in
their graces... 4 all Artists, Madonna, make a stand 4 what is RIGHT...
surely they will listen 2 u!" In the dream u seemed 2 feel me and yet u
were a bit non-committal... so as u approached the podium, eye followed u,
and as we stood side by side, eye said, "b glad this a commercial break!"
and eye walked offstage and looked 4 Wyclef. Interpretations aside, artist
2 artist, "U Can Help Us... and eye know u will becuz u REMEMBER ME."

I remember when that letter was posted. Creepy then, creepy now.

He must've been a very depressed guy around this time period.