y do u think prince doesnt care about having a hit album on the radio like he did in the 80s

Is he willing & able....?

1. He does not release singles.

2. How do you know that he doesn't care?

amorris said:

y do u think prince doesnt care about having a hit album on the radio like he did in the 80s

there weren't really any radio hits from 3121 either. but all of his albums from Musicology on have hit the top 3 on the US charts.

so what is your criteria for a "hit album"

errant said:

amorris said:

y do u think prince doesnt care about having a hit album on the radio like he did in the 80s

there weren't really any radio hits from 3121 either. but all of his albums from Musicology on have hit the top 3 on the US charts.

so what is your criteria for a "hit album"

my criteria for a hit album is stuff like musicology or 3121. but my whole thing is he needs to be on the radio more like he used to be he hasnt had major radio hits since the 90s

TheDigitalGardener said:

1. He does not release singles.

2. How do you know that he doesn't care?

like i dont think he cares about having hits anymore like he had in the 80s and 90s he gets zero radio play unless its minnestoa radio

Pretty sure he accepted no record label means no hits or exposure a long time ago. Like I said in the other thread, wishing for Prince to be in the centre of the attention again is just a waste of time. 3121 was a hit for one week but then fizzled out, like all of his albums after 1993 (Musicology doesn't count since it was linked to tickets or whatever), it doesn't make sense to be STILL hung up on this. Just enjoy he didn't fell off the face of the Earth.

[Edited 2/12/11 1:52am]

Prince does not have to write radio hits anymore. He has something far more valuable. Over the years he has obviously gained quite a legacy. Prince has a fanbase that will buy his music. Younger fans come along here and there. He is a cult performer now. The pop days are over. Whats funny is mainstream music sources review his new music as compared to his old. If you want proof Prince does not need hits now then just think of the sold out shows at MSG. His last huge hit was TMBGITW. That was almost two decades ago. He has achieved what GaGa and all the others hope to do. They have the new radio hits, but he has devotion.

I don't think he writes songs with the specific intent of having a hit single, although if you go through the trouble of making remixes before it hits the street and making a video, you are hoping people do like it and spread the word on it.

You hear a lot of established artists talk about the older they get, competing with what's on Top 40 radio matters to you much less.

He seems to be doing the right thing in promoting himself. He played a festival show, and without a doubt, people bought his music the following week. When he goes on TV, people buy his music. When they go to his concert and hear a song they never heard before, they want to know what it is and where to get it.

Prince could easily decide to say he's no longer interested in performing music or recording new music, and take up other interests.

No one really knew how long a performer can keep it going for, and we're just now seeing in this decade that as long as there's people interested, they'll keep going.

A hit single does require promoting. And if he was desperate for a hit single, he'd be trying to get "hot" producers and songwriters like Madonna does, in order to stay out in the public eye, but with her "Celebration" collection, is a sign she's interested in other things. She's already directed one movie, and she's working on her second, and produced some documentaries. She's choosing to be behind the camera, I don't think she'll ever recover from "Swept Away" so I think she's done with trying to act.

Once you're a legend, have a fanbase from different generations, and have established a reputation as a great performer, people will continue to see you.

I'm kind of surprised he hasn't tried to get together with animators and create a cartoon film or series. He's had to have thought about it and sketched some things out. He's the type of person to explore all sorts of ways to tell his stories and sing his songs, and I'm pretty sure animation of some sort's been discussed.

errant said:

amorris said:

y do u think prince doesnt care about having a hit album on the radio like he did in the 80s

there weren't really any radio hits from 3121 either. but all of his albums from Musicology on have hit the top 3 on the US charts.

exactly. hit albums arent what they were in the 80's. gone are the times of when an album would sit in the top 5 for months and take over the world. it just really doesnt happen anymore, with any artist. a few maybe, but it's rare

oh lawd.

Prince NEVER released hit singles, yall.

What he released were fun, artsy-fartsy songs that became hit singles.

"Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life", "Kiss", "Mountains", "SOTT", "U got the Look", "If I was Ur Girlfriend", "Alphabet St.", etc. etc.

Those were fringe art pieces with enough pop appeal to be catchy.--they were sure fire safe hits like MJ's blandass singles or Madonna's completely uninspiring drivel. His stuff was strange and arty.

The difference between the 80s and now, is he's managing himself, promoting himself, and lacks a record label.....oh and the stuff now isn't as good.

Prince has a message to send out now, not a search for "hit" records. Those who are too blind to recognize that, which are many here, should look elsewhere for entertainment.

amorris said:

y do u think prince doesnt care about having a hit album on the radio like he did in the 80s

Why should he care? He doesn't need the money, the fame or to prove himself. And these days, what makes a hit is much different than in the 80s. MTV's dead, radio's dead, there are no 7", 12" or CD singles anymore... and there are few record stores to sell them if there were.

The acts making hit records these days are kids, as are their fans.

His audience has grown up with him over the years as well. The older generation of fans is more likely to spend money on going to concerts, rather than buying a CD or caring what's on the radio. And those are the ones to whom he's catering. He puts out a CD every other year that sells enough to break even, Prince gets paid first which makes him happy, and the fans get new material and a tour so they're happy. So in essence, all his albums are hits, from a certain point of view.

Just my perspective of thangs,

Chas

nastyarse said:

oh lawd.

Prince NEVER released hit singles, yall.

What he released were fun, artsy-fartsy songs that became hit singles.

"Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life", "Kiss", "Mountains", "SOTT", "U got the Look", "If I was Ur Girlfriend", "Alphabet St.", etc. etc.

Those were fringe art pieces with enough pop appeal to be catchy.--they were sure fire safe hits like MJ's blandass singles or Madonna's completely uninspiring drivel. His stuff was strange and arty.

The difference between the 80s and now, is he's managing himself, promoting himself, and lacks a record label.....oh and the stuff now isn't as good.

You forgot those songs were SO GOOD AND ART that they brought world peace and cured cancer.

nastyarse said:

oh lawd.

Prince NEVER released hit singles, yall.

What he released were fun, artsy-fartsy songs that became hit singles.

"Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life", "Kiss", "Mountains", "SOTT", "U got the Look", "If I was Ur Girlfriend", "Alphabet St.", etc. etc.

Those were fringe art pieces with enough pop appeal to be catchy.--they were sure fire safe hits like MJ's blandass singles or Madonna's completely uninspiring drivel. His stuff was strange and arty.

The difference between the 80s and now, is he's managing himself, promoting himself, and lacks a record label.....oh and the stuff now isn't as good.

Raspberry Beret is a fringe art piece?

The internet has made hit singles irrelevent today.People listen to what the hell they want and the charts are just an advert for big labels to push new artists onto the young and stupid now.Prince doesnt play ball the way the majors want and thats why he doesnt get number one's anymore.He doesnt care either as he can still fill stadiums.

All of Prince's classics compared to the new idea of a hit....... say, Justin Bieber? Ummm, I don't think so... if I ever see this kid I'm bringing a pair of hair clippers and shaving his head bald!!!!

nastyarse said:

oh lawd.

Prince NEVER released hit singles, yall.

What he released were fun, artsy-fartsy songs that became hit singles.

"Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life", "Kiss", "Mountains", "SOTT", "U got the Look", "If I was Ur Girlfriend", "Alphabet St.", etc. etc.

Those were fringe art pieces with enough pop appeal to be catchy.--they were sure fire safe hits like MJ's blandass singles or Madonna's completely uninspiring drivel. His stuff was strange and arty.

The difference between the 80s and now, is he's managing himself, promoting himself, and lacks a record label.....oh and the stuff now isn't as good.

LOL. You don't need to bring other great artists down just to show how great Prince is. He can stand on his own.

Since when was 3121 a hit album?

MajesticOne89 said:

Since when was 3121 a hit album?

it went straight in at number one on the americian charts....since when has a number one album not been a hit?....all his recent albums have made the top 3 and all bar one have sold at least half a million.....

amorris said:

y do u think prince doesnt care about having a hit album on the radio like he did in the 80s

Prince is too old. When was the last time Paul McCartney, John Mellencamp, Rolling Stones, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, etc. had hit singles? Besides, the stuff that are hits today are generally ringtone tunes. Selling ringtones is how some acts make money today.

blackbob said:

MajesticOne89 said:

Since when was 3121 a hit album?

it went straight in at number one on the americian charts....since when has a number one album not been a hit?....all his recent albums have made the top 3 and all bar one have sold at least half a million.....

I know, I was one of the 186,000 or so that bought it the first week. It was number 1 yes, but I wouldn't exactly call it a hit album just based on that.

blackbob said:

since when has a number one album not been a hit?

Just ask Christina Aguilera. Her last album went to #1 in the UK but failed to move 100,000 copies in TOTAL SALES.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionic_(Christina_Aguilera_album)

100,000 in worldwide sales? Doesn't seem like it.

Oh great, now people are denying a number one album hit status as well.

The internet. All these great arguments.

novabrkr said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bionic_(Christina_Aguilera_album)

100,000 in worldwide sales? Doesn't seem like it.

Oh great, now people are denying a number one album hit status as well.

The internet. All these great arguments.

I meant UK total sales. It was the lowest selling #1 album with less than 30,000 sold and then it quickly dropped out from the chart, not even moving 100k.

Well, a lot of popular American artists do not even crack TOP40 in the UK.

Take it from me.There are tons of prince fans in the UK and im proud to say i always will be.He can fill up the 02 arena in london 21 times over so hes far from finished.you only get hit singles or albums if you sell your soul to major record labels.Prince only associate with them to get distribution dealt with.Singles became yesterdays news when the internet was born.

What is the point of a hit album? Money, kudos, fame, legacy?

Prince has fame, he has a legacy, he has kudos and I would wager his tours are currently more profitable than his records are.

Personally, I don't regard Musicology, 3121 or Lotusflow3r as hit records - despite their high chart positions. For me a hit album has hit songs, it's part of the pop culture of the time - Prince hasn't had this since D&P.

NouveauDance said:

What is the point of a hit album? Money, kudos, fame, legacy?

Prince has fame, he has a legacy, he has kudos and I would wager his tours are currently more profitable than his records are.

Personally, I don't regard Musicology, 3121 or Lotusflow3r as hit records - despite their high chart positions. For me a hit album has hit songs, it's part of the pop culture of the time - Prince hasn't had this since D&P.

MajesticOne89 said:

NouveauDance said:

What is the point of a hit album? Money, kudos, fame, legacy?

Prince has fame, he has a legacy, he has kudos and I would wager his tours are currently more profitable than his records are.

Personally, I don't regard Musicology, 3121 or Lotusflow3r as hit records - despite their high chart positions. For me a hit album has hit songs, it's part of the pop culture of the time - Prince hasn't had this since D&P.

Nor does he "need" that... nor do we "need" that. If we do, then we should look to the boring music being played on the radio today...