Jokes aside with the new interview, the main thing for me is the decision (if its even true) that he won't release anymore records.

Sure it could be another thowaway statement, but it is clear his output is slowing down, and it doesn't look like there will be a 2011 album. I am in the minority and still enjoy the new albums, but judging by Prince's own reaction to promotion or live play, I think I possibly like 20ten more than him.

Do you think we should take his comments on face value, and assume that pirates are to blame?

Do you think Prince is using the pirates as an excuse to hide his disappointment in sales?

Do you think the fire has just gone out in his belly?

Do you think that JW and Larry are just eating away at him?

Personally, I think he is using the piracy argument to hide the fact that less people are buying his records than ever before. He blatantly contradicts his own arguement in the interview. He says he can't make any money because of pirates, yet he says the people making money are Apple. A legitimate pay for service. So money can be made, but not the way Prince wants.

I think Prince has a problem with the likes of Apple because they are effectively a record label, blocking Prince from the consumer. He has failed to realise that his own handling of direct consumer sales was a disaster (ie Lotusflower online).

Also, Prince has spent the last few years avoiding pirates by launching albums on a single day through publications. What has obviously gone wrong with that model? It seemed to work and he was again labelled as a pioneer. I guess is the papers won't give Prince the money he expects, as less people are interested in his CD's that ever before. He has cheapened his product, just like the crtitics warned at the time.

Then there is the most obvious route. Go back to giving the new music with a concert ticket. No need for pirates. Fresh jelly, straight to the fans. But he doesn't want to.

Has he simply lost his mojo? Is he frustrated with the success of his own past?

What do you think?

I honestly think Prince just doesn't give a fuck. It's unfortunate, but I guess that's just the way it is.

SquirrelMeat said:

Jokes aside with the new interview, the main thing for me is the decision (if its even true) that he won't release anymore records.

Sure it could be another thowaway statement, but it is clear his output is slowing down, and it doesn't look like there will be a 2011 album. I am in the minority and still enjoy the new albums, but judging by Prince's own reaction to promotion or live play, I think I possibly like 20ten more than him.

Do you think we should take his comments on face value, and assume that pirates are to blame?

Do you think Prince is using the pirates as an excuse to hide his disappointment in sales?

Do you think the fire has just gone out in his belly?

Do you think that JW and Larry are just eating away at him?

Personally, I think he is using the piracy argument to hide the fact that less people are buying his records than ever before. He blatantly contradicts his own arguement in the interview. He says he can't make any money because of pirates, yet he says the people making money are Apple. A legitimate pay for service. So money can be made, but not the way Prince wants.

I think Prince has a problem with the likes of Apple because they are effectively a record label, blocking Prince from the consumer. He has failed to realise that his own handling of direct consumer sales was a disaster (ie Lotusflower online).

Also, Prince has spent the last few years avoiding pirates by launching albums on a single day through publications. What has obviously gone wrong with that model? It seemed to work and he was again labelled as a pioneer. I guess is the papers won't give Prince the money he expects, as less people are interested in his CD's that ever before. He has cheapened his product, just like the crtitics warned at the time.

Then there is the most obvious route. Go back to giving the new music with a concert ticket. No need for pirates. Fresh jelly, straight to the fans. But he doesn't want to.

Has he simply lost his mojo? Is he frustrated with the success of his own past?

What do you think?

oh christ...i dont know..

.

.

blackbob said:

SquirrelMeat said:

Jokes aside with the new interview, the main thing for me is the decision (if its even true) that he won't release anymore records.

Sure it could be another thowaway statement, but it is clear his output is slowing down, and it doesn't look like there will be a 2011 album. I am in the minority and still enjoy the new albums, but judging by Prince's own reaction to promotion or live play, I think I possibly like 20ten more than him.

Do you think we should take his comments on face value, and assume that pirates are to blame?

Do you think Prince is using the pirates as an excuse to hide his disappointment in sales?

Do you think the fire has just gone out in his belly?

Do you think that JW and Larry are just eating away at him?

Personally, I think he is using the piracy argument to hide the fact that less people are buying his records than ever before. He blatantly contradicts his own arguement in the interview. He says he can't make any money because of pirates, yet he says the people making money are Apple. A legitimate pay for service. So money can be made, but not the way Prince wants.

I think Prince has a problem with the likes of Apple because they are effectively a record label, blocking Prince from the consumer. He has failed to realise that his own handling of direct consumer sales was a disaster (ie Lotusflower online).

Also, Prince has spent the last few years avoiding pirates by launching albums on a single day through publications. What has obviously gone wrong with that model? It seemed to work and he was again labelled as a pioneer. I guess is the papers won't give Prince the money he expects, as less people are interested in his CD's that ever before. He has cheapened his product, just like the crtitics warned at the time.

Then there is the most obvious route. Go back to giving the new music with a concert ticket. No need for pirates. Fresh jelly, straight to the fans. But he doesn't want to.

Has he simply lost his mojo? Is he frustrated with the success of his own past?

What do you think?

oh christ...i dont know..

.

.

Maybe he is the business genius that the fams believe and this whole interview is nothing more that publicity for the concerts that haven't sold out????

I think Prince mixes several issues together, maybe because he likes things to fit into a "big, connected and all-encompassing answer" (isn't that more or less his mojo in life?), and ends up not getting a single issue. And a very special thing in Prince's character seems to help this messy thinking: Like a spoilt teenager he doesn't seem able to face up to his own flaws and failures*.

I don't think Prince has lost his abilities. But he's lost the desire to utilize those abilities, and from an outsider perspective, it looks like it's because of a shift in priorities - he seems to play for money today, while he back in the day seemed to play because of the music itself. It's been a long time since the music itself made headlines.

A good example of Prince mixing issues, like failing to face up to his own doing, plus the actual issue of piracy, plus his shift in focus from music to money, would be: Prince doesn't make his music available in the shops everywhere, a vast sea of his songs in the early 00s were released exclusively as digital copies - resulting in people pirating his material, because how the f' else would they get to hear it? Although, I'm sure, people probably download Lovesexy more than Rave Un2, which begs to question: Because Lovesexy is better known, or because the 80's Prince was better in the opinion of newcoming fans with internet accesses?

*I have not yet heard him talk about lotusflow3r.com, but I have heard him say the internet is dead and an obvious question here would be: "But why do your fans have to pay for the funeral of your web abortions, Prince?")

SquirrelMeat said:

Jokes aside with the new interview, the main thing for me is the decision (if its even true) that he won't release anymore records.

Sure it could be another thowaway statement, but it is clear his output is slowing down, and it doesn't look like there will be a 2011 album. I am in the minority and still enjoy the new albums, but judging by Prince's own reaction to promotion or live play, I think I possibly like 20ten more than him.

Do you think we should take his comments on face value, and assume that pirates are to blame?

Do you think Prince is using the pirates as an excuse to hide his disappointment in sales?

Do you think the fire has just gone out in his belly?

Do you think that JW and Larry are just eating away at him?

Personally, I think he is using the piracy argument to hide the fact that less people are buying his records than ever before. He blatantly contradicts his own arguement in the interview. He says he can't make any money because of pirates, yet he says the people making money are Apple. A legitimate pay for service. So money can be made, but not the way Prince wants.

I think Prince has a problem with the likes of Apple because they are effectively a record label, blocking Prince from the consumer. He has failed to realise that his own handling of direct consumer sales was a disaster (ie Lotusflower online).

Also, Prince has spent the last few years avoiding pirates by launching albums on a single day through publications. What has obviously gone wrong with that model? It seemed to work and he was again labelled as a pioneer. I guess is the papers won't give Prince the money he expects, as less people are interested in his CD's that ever before. He has cheapened his product, just like the crtitics warned at the time.

Then there is the most obvious route. Go back to giving the new music with a concert ticket. No need for pirates. Fresh jelly, straight to the fans. But he doesn't want to.

Has he simply lost his mojo? Is he frustrated with the success of his own past?

What do you think?

lets have a go at this then..

.

back in 2001..prince GAVE the file sharing website napster a track 'the work part 1' to put on their servers...this was BEFORE they were a legit website..???...so he was happy with file sharing back then...this was to get it up the big record companies obviously but ..now...he has changed his mind about file sharing

.

the internet has had a big effect on sales but ..back in the 80s...it was people making copies of tapes that were the problem so its always been there..its just bigger now...

.

prince's sales...he still does ok sales wise...musicology sold around 2 million worldwide..3121 around 1.5 million...the problem prince has is not soo much with sales...its lack of airplay that is his main problem...he has a big enough fan base that will always buy his albums but he wont sell 5 million albums without airplay..

.

i enjoy his new albums as well...he still makes good music imo (lotusflower single disc is a top 10 prince album for me) no..its not as great as the 80s or the gold experience but i still enjoy his music...20ten...no not his best by far but still enough on it that i can enjoy it...i think prince likes his new stuff or he wouldnt release it...but ..as i have said before...his new stuff gets no airplay so no-one outside his fanbase gets to hear them...

.

i think he still has fire in his belly but he is getting older...

.

yes...as i have said before...i dont like the influence larry graham has had on prince and i dont like that fact that he became a big part of prince's life after he lost his baby and marriage and was at a low point in his life ...in walks larry with his hardline jw ...this is the way..preaching...

.

i dont think he has a problem with his past...he is who he is now...

it is simple, he is old and totally irrelevant to what's happening now in the music scene. He is now at Icon status where like many, many other [Elton, Clapton, Stevie, etc, etc] they simply have no need to prove themselves. Innovation and creativity is almost always with the voice of youth just like when he first started.

What does make him different though to the ICONS is that he is supremely gifted with a clear talent however he has actively chosen not to use it to its full potential. Sure on his last few CDs there's been the odd great song, great solo, witty lyric etc BUT these moments are few and far between. It's his choice, his mojo is not lost , it's just deeply buried waiting to be dug up.

What a great artist! The only reason for releasing music is to make money!

[Edited 6/24/11 4:48am]

I don't think the piracy argument is a good one... Lady Gaga still managed to sell (allegedly) 10 Million+ copies of her debut album, and 5 Million+ copies of her new album in a month, and researching torrent websites shows her new album being illegally downloaded 50,000+ times, just between a few sites.

I'm honestly not sure what Prince's problem is. People who knew him said he's a control freak... maybe he only wants his music to be distributed and heard a certain way... I believe he really does hate digital music (for whatever reason), as he's mentioned it many times. He once said something along the lines of he liked bootlegging back in the days of vinyl, but it's too easy now with the internet. Judging by his praising Islamic countries for their lack of freedom, I really believe it all comes down to control - he only wants his music released and heard on his own terms.

Also, someone on the org posted an interview recently (I think from 1998) where Prince was angry that he only makes $7 Million off an album and a tour, when he should make at least $140 Million. I may have got some of that wrong, or out of context, but that's what I remember. So, I'm sure greed factors into it too. I also cite his Lopez interview as evidence of his greed - saying he'll stick to touring and playing all the hits because that's where the money is.

He should do another Crystal Ball-style release. I know Crystal Ball was a disaster, but if he handled it properly, released a strong single for free to his fans, then said he wouldn't release the album until he got x amount of pre-orders... it worked before, why wouldn't it work again?

I'm sure there'll be a new album. Maybe not soon, but eventually. He said back in 2009 that he wasn't going to release albums much anymore, and just focus on live shows instead, then he released '20Ten' ...

I don't know if any of what I said was useful or made sense, but trying to make sense of the things Prince says and does is hard.

[Edited 6/24/11 5:41am]

SquirrelMeat said:

blackbob said:

oh christ...i dont know..

.

.

Maybe he is the business genius that the fams believe and this whole interview is nothing more that publicity for the concerts that haven't sold out????

If that's his intention, I'd have to think he's stupid. I really think this latest interview has hurt him way more than it's helped him - it hasn't become a huge news story, so it's not bringing Prince into the spotlight, but it has led many of his fans to seriously question purchasing his music and concert tickets.

Even I, someone who's never cared about an artist's personal life before, don't think I'll ever purchase anything from Prince again. Even if he comes to my town, I'm not going to see him live - I think he sucks live anymore, and his (very) ignorant comments make me not want to support him. If I do buy another album - I'll buy it used, and give my money to someone else. I am seriously offended and deeply disgusted by his comments (not just the islam comments, either), I see no way to interpret them as not being insane and terribly ignorant, and there's many others who feel the same way. I certainly don't think this interview helped him any.

Prince in a nutshell:

Music-wise - genius (when he can be arsed)

In every other respect - twat.

ogiogiogi1 said:

Prince in a nutshell:

Music-wise - genius (when he can be arsed)

In every other respect - twat.

Gospel.

this hasn't happened in a LONG time.

i think i'm about to defend Prince's take on something.

(pause)

anyway. Prince is right to an extent about the current state of the music industry. we're dangerously close to there not being one.

he's dead on in the Guardian interview when he says the only people making money in the music industry anymore are pretty much Apple and Google. technology has changed how we listen and access music so much to the point where digitally there's really only one way to get music anymore. The internet.

And with Apple's dominance in the device market, it's no big surprise that iTunes is the biggest music retailer on the planet. and what's left of the major music industry pretty much has no choice but to play ball with Apple. their recent announcement of "iTunes Plus" is really exciting and will also most likely signal the death of the music industry as we knew it.

For a modest $25 a year you will now have access to your entire music library whereever you go. So if you have 40,000 songs, even if you paid for 5,000 of them with iTunes they're going to scan and upload everything else in your library so you can access it anywhere from any Mac, iPod, iPhone or iPad. if you ripped it in a lesser quality, iTunes is going to upgrade it to a better quality. if it's a song that iTunes doesn't have (rarities, outtakes, etc) they're going to upload it and add it to your library only.

as a music fan, that's amazing. for record labels and musicians, it's a nightmare. Apple is basically insuring that you will only purchase and manage your music with them. it's getting harder and harder to get noticed out there. Sure if you're the flavor of the moment (Gaga, Bieber, etc) you can make a splash but otherwise you can't make it in what's left of the industry.

In the very near future, it's going to be either your on iTunes or you're on your own trying to sell a few pieces here and there on sites like Beatport.

So, Prince is kinda right about this one. I mean it's already affected tons of artists now that are amazing but can't get deals right now. Prince sees the writing on the wall. He's not going to be able to compete in this digital marketplace.

Again, me agreeing with Prince feels weird. I need to go crack on some lame threads to feel like myself.

Basically..........Prince is full of shit on this one.

This system is what it is.

Either deal with it or retire.

ButterscotchPimp said:

this hasn't happened in a LONG time.

i think i'm about to defend Prince's take on something.

(pause)

anyway. Prince is right to an extent about the current state of the music industry. we're dangerously close to there not being one.

he's dead on in the Guardian interview when he says the only people making money in the music industry anymore are pretty much Apple and Google. technology has changed how we listen and access music so much to the point where digitally there's really only one way to get music anymore. The internet.

And with Apple's dominance in the device market, it's no big surprise that iTunes is the biggest music retailer on the planet. and what's left of the major music industry pretty much has no choice but to play ball with Apple. their recent announcement of "iTunes Plus" is really exciting and will also most likely signal the death of the music industry as we knew it.

For a modest $25 a year you will now have access to your entire music library whereever you go. So if you have 40,000 songs, even if you paid for 5,000 of them with iTunes they're going to scan and upload everything else in your library so you can access it anywhere from any Mac, iPod, iPhone or iPad. if you ripped it in a lesser quality, iTunes is going to upgrade it to a better quality. if it's a song that iTunes doesn't have (rarities, outtakes, etc) they're going to upload it and add it to your library only.

as a music fan, that's amazing. for record labels and musicians, it's a nightmare. Apple is basically insuring that you will only purchase and manage your music with them. it's getting harder and harder to get noticed out there. Sure if you're the flavor of the moment (Gaga, Bieber, etc) you can make a splash but otherwise you can't make it in what's left of the industry.

In the very near future, it's going to be either your on iTunes or you're on your own trying to sell a few pieces here and there on sites like Beatport.

So, Prince is kinda right about this one. I mean it's already affected tons of artists now that are amazing but can't get deals right now. Prince sees the writing on the wall. He's not going to be able to compete in this digital marketplace.

Again, me agreeing with Prince feels weird. I need to go crack on some lame threads to feel like myself.

I don't disagree with you on the dominance of Apple in the sector, and in fact, I donn't use itunes anymore because I don't want to be a hypocrite.

But Prince found other channels, like giving the album in the ticket price of a show. So why doesn't he repeat that?

I don't think his problem is really with Pirates and Apple. Its a control thing again.

Well, digital music sucks indeed when you have 2 pay for it. Why not buy a cd or vinyl?I don't get that people are don't buy a cd or vinyl anymore, don't people miss the feeling of having a cd in their hands? The sound of the cd's are better yes, than some MP3 that you downloaded on the internet. lol Of course there also some HQ files out there, but most of it isn't as good the sound quality of a cd..People are complaining about that cd's and stuff are expensive, but the prices hasn't really changed over the years. People bought cd's, vinyl, etc for years and years, and they didn't complain about it and just bought it. I love collecting cd's, vinyl, etc. So I would like to see that the physical format is making his big comeback , and that the pirates are gone. Sorry but that's just the way I think about it. and I understand P is dissapointed with this, but I think he shouldn't stop with recording and releasing music. He should do it the old fashion way.... vinyl???? no cd but just vinyl? Vinyl is getting hot again so.. mabye he should think about that, because he loves old stuff so much, doesn't he?(just like me btw. lol)

xLiberiangirl said:

Well, digital music sucks indeed when you have 2 pay for it. Why not buy a cd or vinyl?I don't get that people are don't buy a cd or vinyl anymore, don't people miss the feeling of having a cd in their hands? The sound of the cd's are better yes, than some MP3 that you downloaded on the internet. lol Of course there also some HQ files out there, but most of it isn't as good the sound quality of a cd..People are complaining about that cd's and stuff are expensive, but the prices hasn't really changed over the years. People bought cd's, vinyl, etc for years and years, and they didn't complain about it and just bought it. I love collecting cd's, vinyl, etc. So I would like to see that the physical format is making his big comeback , and that the pirates are gone. Sorry but that's just the way I think about it. and I understand P is dissapointed with this, but I think he shouldn't stop with recording and releasing music. He should do it the old fashion way.... vinyl???? no cd but just vinyl? Vinyl is getting hot again so.. mabye he should think about that, because he loves old stuff so much, doesn't he?(just like me btw. lol)

I agree, but the problem is, it can still get ripped by pirates. The youth want digital, whether we like it or not!

If P does want to get new music out there he should use his concerts as his platform. Either giveaway like Planet Earth, or gig exclusives.

I dislike virtually all Prince music from the 90's forward, but.... you've got to admit, piracy probably does hurt his sales. Prince has been making sh*t records for like 20+ years now, he should know by now what his sales minimums ought to be. In fact, he's likely comfortable achieving only a minimum number of sales, to FAMS, so long as he can put out anything he feels like. On the other hand, I think the number of people frustrated with broken promises and underhwelming completely self-indulgent albums is greater than he realizes and is at least a factor in why his sales are slow.

I think his argument that he can't make money from releasing albums is utter crap. Did he not boast about how much he made through the Daily Mail with Planet Earth, and 20ten via The Observer? It seemed to work for him then, and there's nothing to suggest it couldn't work again releasing albums through similar channels. I believe he's been damaged not only by the general response to his recent albums, but also the fact (imo) that he has indeed lost his 'mojo'. I think that was lost years ago.

If he really wanted, and if he really believed in his own output, someone of his stature, experience, and establised name, could easily overcome the so-called obsticles he's using as an excuse.

To actually come out and say that (amongst other things) in the interview, just shows how delluded, blinkered, and ignorant he really is.

He knows his albums can't compete with current music, so he has to create a smokescreen to justify why he's not releasing any more new music (if that indeed is actually the case).

But we've heard all this before. Once it was reported that he was going to play the hits for the last time. Now look - that's all he's playing, because he knows his recent output is no where as strong as the output from a decade + ago.

Do you think we should take his comments on face value, and assume that pirates are to blame?

Prince comments should always be received without much thought. This guy rarely tells the truth about anything. I mean, he's lied to the press, fans, Oprah..you name it.

Do you think Prince is using the pirates as an excuse to hide his disappointment in sales?

Prince makes it sound like there are millions upon millions of human beings out there wanting to grab his albums for free. I can't think of anybody outside of hardcore fans who would be arsed to download a free copy of lotusflow3r or 20Ten Hell, there are a good number of people out there who wouldn't give his music a spin should it arrive at there doorstep in the post.

Do you think the fire has just gone out in his belly?

I'm not sure about that one. Prince, as is evident in Purple Rain & Graffiti Bridge, likes to portray himself as the enigmatic underdog who surprises everybody with an 11th hour stroke of genius. Who knows what will happen.

I do know that he's in his 50s and if he should decide to continue after a few years break, it will be different. Prince may have cosmetically kept himself in a timewarp, but the illusion isn't going to last forever--he'll end up being an old man regurgitating parodies of a bygone error of brilliance.

Do you think that JW and Larry are just eating away at him?

Not really. But how would I know? I think prince is just alone. How could he not be? The guy is not surrounded by people who dare not confront him, else they be dismissed. So, I would imagine the guy to be somewhat isolated and surrounded by musicians who only really know him on a professional level.

Can anybody here honestly say that Bria Valente would make any 50 year old feel any less alone? Sheeeiiiiiiit.

And Misty is young enough to be his granddaughter. If Prince truly likes these women, I would imagine him to just a less extreme version of MJ--he's stuck in an emotionally stunted timewarp of his early 20s with a cynical and jaded old age creeping up and seeping into his bones.

Has he simply lost his mojo? Is he frustrated with the success of his own past?

Again, I don't know. What he records and what he releases are two different things. We have to remember that just a little over a year ago, there was a supposed recording frenzy going on, and sound engineers were getting fired for leaking info. I doubt 20Ten was the project these people were discussing.

What do you think?

Prince should wear a burqa to cover that awful hairdo of his, that's what I think. We shouldn't give him a choice about it. Wear a burqa, Prince--trust me, it's fun.

[Edited 6/24/11 8:14am]

xLiberiangirl said:

Well, digital music sucks indeed when you have 2 pay for it. Why not buy a cd or vinyl?I don't get that people are don't buy a cd or vinyl anymore, don't people miss the feeling of having a cd in their hands? The sound of the cd's are better yes, than some MP3 that you downloaded on the internet. lol Of course there also some HQ files out there, but most of it isn't as good the sound quality of a cd..People are complaining about that cd's and stuff are expensive, but the prices hasn't really changed over the years. People bought cd's, vinyl, etc for years and years, and they didn't complain about it and just bought it. I love collecting cd's, vinyl, etc. So I would like to see that the physical format is making his big comeback , and that the pirates are gone. Sorry but that's just the way I think about it. and I understand P is dissapointed with this, but I think he shouldn't stop with recording and releasing music. He should do it the old fashion way.... vinyl???? no cd but just vinyl? Vinyl is getting hot again so.. mabye he should think about that, because he loves old stuff so much, doesn't he?(just like me btw. lol)

Look, you're preaching to the choir on that one. I'm a music fan and i've spent the last 20 years of my career in the music business. I also miss going to music stores. I mean, i live in one of the biggest cities in the world (NYC) and what are my options for buying new music? BEST BUY AND TARGET. which is great if you want a new Gaga or Bieber cd, but what if i want the new Little Dragon? a new Esthero?

I can spend a couple of days calling around the few indie stores that are left to see if they have what i want in stock or i can just download it from iTunes and listen to it right now.

cd's and vinyl are a niche market now. it's not how the mainstream public wants their music anymore. i don't like it, but those are the facts.

which is why all the music stores died.

boscho said:

I think his argument that he can't make money from releasing albums is utter crap. Did he not boast about how much he made through the Daily Mail with Planet Earth, and 20ten via The Observer? It seemed to work for him then, and there's nothing to suggest it couldn't work again releasing albums through similar channels. I believe he's been damaged not only by the general response to his recent albums, but also the fact (imo) that he has indeed lost his 'mojo'. I think that was lost years ago.

If he really wanted, and if he really believed in his own output, someone of his stature, experience, and establised name, could easily overcome the so-called obsticles he's using as an excuse.

To actually come out and say that (amongst other things) in the interview, just shows how delluded, blinkered, and ignorant he really is.

He knows his albums can't compete with current music, so he has to create a smokescreen to justify why he's not releasing any more new music (if that indeed is actually the case).

But we've heard all this before. Once it was reported that he was going to play the hits for the last time. Now look - that's all he's playing, because he knows his recent output is no where as strong as the output from a decade + ago.

again, (and it's so weird that i'm on his side about something) what Prince is trying to say is that the game has changed so much that even what he did recently distribution wise with PE, 20ten and Lotusflow3r isn't going to work anymore.

He can't go and pick the label that's going to give him the best deal anymore because very soon there aren't going to BE any record labels.

There's going to be Apple and Google. And Apple DOES NOT NEGOTIATE. the rate is what it is, take it or leave it. Prince knows he won't win.

The whole thing, to my mind, just sort of reeks of the ol' "it's my ball, and I'm goin' home" routine. Like, we're supposed to beg him to stay. That's always the wrong way to go about things.

What he needs to do is remaster the catalogue while there's still a ghost of a cd market, open the vault on cd as well, make a shit-ton of money while there's still time, then go spend two years living on an island somewhere where he can think about what he loved about us, and we, cds in hand, can think about what we loved about him.

SquirrelMeat said:

Do you think Prince is using the pirates as an excuse to hide his disappointment in sales?

Mojo is an abstract/objective concept and hard to grasp.

Look at the disappointing sales of albums like Parade, Lovesexy, Graffiti Bridge, and Come. These are some all time great/favorite Prince albums but they had shit sales. Had he lost his mojo back then? And that was before internet piracy.

Let's be honest: Sales are about promotion. Even with the best promotion today (Lady Gaga), no one is selling like the 80's or 90's.

ButterscotchPimp said:

boscho said:

I think his argument that he can't make money from releasing albums is utter crap. Did he not boast about how much he made through the Daily Mail with Planet Earth, and 20ten via The Observer? It seemed to work for him then, and there's nothing to suggest it couldn't work again releasing albums through similar channels. I believe he's been damaged not only by the general response to his recent albums, but also the fact (imo) that he has indeed lost his 'mojo'. I think that was lost years ago.

If he really wanted, and if he really believed in his own output, someone of his stature, experience, and establised name, could easily overcome the so-called obsticles he's using as an excuse.

To actually come out and say that (amongst other things) in the interview, just shows how delluded, blinkered, and ignorant he really is.

He knows his albums can't compete with current music, so he has to create a smokescreen to justify why he's not releasing any more new music (if that indeed is actually the case).

But we've heard all this before. Once it was reported that he was going to play the hits for the last time. Now look - that's all he's playing, because he knows his recent output is no where as strong as the output from a decade + ago.

again, (and it's so weird that i'm on his side about something) what Prince is trying to say is that the game has changed so much that even what he did recently distribution wise with PE, 20ten and Lotusflow3r isn't going to work anymore.

He can't go and pick the label that's going to give him the best deal anymore because very soon there aren't going to BE any record labels.

There's going to be Apple and Google. And Apple DOES NOT NEGOTIATE. the rate is what it is, take it or leave it. Prince knows he won't win.

It does still make money, but not as much as he had hoped for.

If he had done a good job with him own online supply over the past 14 years, then he wouldn't be in this situation. It was his inhability to offer customer service that lost him the ultimate fan loyalty and custom.

It was admirable that he wanted to do away with his record label, but he trashed the direct route when the fans became exposed to his eccentricities, something we had be shielded from by WB.

As for Apple, they do have too much power. Because of this, I go to to Amazon and Play. If anyone supports Prince on this, or does not like what Apple is doing to market. Don't use them. There are plenty of alternatives.

I've been thinking about this same thing for the last few hours (after reading the interview).

To me, if Prince is tired of the digital revolution (like he says he is), he should find other ways to release music. I personally think he should release a new album on vinyl only. No cds or any other format other than vinyl. Don't have an mp3 code in it or anything. That way, he would make a statement to the world and we will see how many copies he sells.

I really think he could do well doing this.

Also, if people are going to pirate the music, they will have to "work" to do it.

daPrettyman said:

I've been thinking about this same thing for the last few hours (after reading the interview).

To me, if Prince is tired of the digital revolution (like he says he is), he should find other ways to release music. I personally think he should release a new album on vinyl only. No cds or any other format other than vinyl. Don't have an mp3 code in it or anything. That way, he would make a statement to the world and we will see how many copies he sells.

I really think he could do well doing this.

Also, if people are going to pirate the music, they will have to "work" to do it.

If he had really wanted to thumb his nose at the digital scene, he should've released 20Ten on vinyl but he didn't do that, now did he?

ButterscotchPimp said:

boscho said:

I think his argument that he can't make money from releasing albums is utter crap. Did he not boast about how much he made through the Daily Mail with Planet Earth, and 20ten via The Observer? It seemed to work for him then, and there's nothing to suggest it couldn't work again releasing albums through similar channels. I believe he's been damaged not only by the general response to his recent albums, but also the fact (imo) that he has indeed lost his 'mojo'. I think that was lost years ago.

If he really wanted, and if he really believed in his own output, someone of his stature, experience, and establised name, could easily overcome the so-called obsticles he's using as an excuse.

To actually come out and say that (amongst other things) in the interview, just shows how delluded, blinkered, and ignorant he really is.

He knows his albums can't compete with current music, so he has to create a smokescreen to justify why he's not releasing any more new music (if that indeed is actually the case).

But we've heard all this before. Once it was reported that he was going to play the hits for the last time. Now look - that's all he's playing, because he knows his recent output is no where as strong as the output from a decade + ago.

again, (and it's so weird that i'm on his side about something) what Prince is trying to say is that the game has changed so much that even what he did recently distribution wise with PE, 20ten and Lotusflow3r isn't going to work anymore.

He can't go and pick the label that's going to give him the best deal anymore because very soon there aren't going to BE any record labels.

There's going to be Apple and Google. And Apple DOES NOT NEGOTIATE. the rate is what it is, take it or leave it. Prince knows he won't win.

Some what agreed but it comes down to who owns the radio market. That's how record labels forced their control of the market. But when Apple or Google emerge as the new music labels (which they will) artists will sign with them. Then Apple will either buy out some radio stations or come up with the *Iradio to push their artists. The old labels will go bankrupt-sale their back catalogues to apple or(both) google.

*Iradio trademark and copyright kewlschool