Obviously it seems a lot of Prince's back catalogue is now Out of Print (which albums precisely?) but I just checked the RIAA database to see if any of Prince's older albums had been updated most of them haven't been updated since the year they came out.

Pretty much only 1999 and Purple Rain have received the odd update and I think for Purple Rain it was in 1996.

Naturally as Prince's reputation dipped in the mid to late 90s his back catalogue sales probably suffered too, but I think it hard to believe that in 20 years Parade, for instance, has only shipped 1 million copies.

Even Purple Rain has probably shipped another million at least since 1996 (I bet it's done that since 2004).

So does anyone know how much it would cost Warner Bros to update these? I think I read a while back they pay for it, which is why it often doesn't get done for older artists they have no commercial time for.

If Prince released remastered albums for instance, I'm sure it would then be in WB's interest to update all the records as part of a promotional push, but as some of it is OOP what's the point?

Anyone know much more about this?

softandwet said:

Obviously it seems a lot of Prince's back catalogue is now Out of Print (which albums precisely?) but I just checked the RIAA database to see if any of Prince's older albums had been updated most of them haven't been updated since the year they came out.

Pretty much only 1999 and Purple Rain have received the odd update and I think for Purple Rain it was in 1996.

Naturally as Prince's reputation dipped in the mid to late 90s his back catalogue sales probably suffered too, but I think it hard to believe that in 20 years Parade, for instance, has only shipped 1 million copies.

Even Purple Rain has probably shipped another million at least since 1996 (I bet it's done that since 2004).

So does anyone know how much it would cost Warner Bros to update these? I think I read a while back they pay for it, which is why it often doesn't get done for older artists they have no commercial time for.

If Prince released remastered albums for instance, I'm sure it would then be in WB's interest to update all the records as part of a promotional push, but as some of it is OOP what's the point?

Anyone know much more about this?

I very much doubt that the cost to Warner Bros of updating the RIAA website is going to result in any worthwhile rise in sales.

How many people check the RIAA database for up-to-date sales figures before they making a buying decision?

langebleu said:

softandwet said:

Obviously it seems a lot of Prince's back catalogue is now Out of Print (which albums precisely?) but I just checked the RIAA database to see if any of Prince's older albums had been updated most of them haven't been updated since the year they came out.

Pretty much only 1999 and Purple Rain have received the odd update and I think for Purple Rain it was in 1996.

Naturally as Prince's reputation dipped in the mid to late 90s his back catalogue sales probably suffered too, but I think it hard to believe that in 20 years Parade, for instance, has only shipped 1 million copies.

Even Purple Rain has probably shipped another million at least since 1996 (I bet it's done that since 2004).

So does anyone know how much it would cost Warner Bros to update these? I think I read a while back they pay for it, which is why it often doesn't get done for older artists they have no commercial time for.

If Prince released remastered albums for instance, I'm sure it would then be in WB's interest to update all the records as part of a promotional push, but as some of it is OOP what's the point?

Anyone know much more about this?

I very much doubt that the cost to Warner Bros of updating the RIAA website is going to result in any worthwhile rise in sales.

How many people check the RIAA database for up-to-date sales figures before they making a buying decision?

i think differently.i think it would show a big difference.more importantly it would affect his certified total.which is at 39.5 currently.we all know he has sold more than that.

Whatever we think he has sold, most people don't really care whether the figures reported on that site are accurate. In particular, I don't understand why you think amending a certified sales figure on a website in which most people have little interest would result in increased sales of any substance?

langebleu said:

Whatever we think her has sold, most people don't really care whjther the figures reported on that site are accurate, and I still don't understand why you think amending a certified sales figure on a website in which most people have little interest would result in increased sales of any substance?

Well, its a brand.

The problem isn't that people wouldn't care, it is that Prince doesn't care. Prince doesn't like nor invest in the RIAA. So he shoots himself in the foot rather than update his records so his branding is appropriate. Instead of people saying "the 40 million record selling artist Prince" they would say "the 100 million record selling artist Prince". It's advertising.

Spinlight said:

langebleu said:

Well, its a brand.

The problem isn't that people wouldn't care, it is that Prince doesn't care. Prince doesn't like nor invest in the RIAA. So he shoots himself in the foot rather than update his records so his branding is appropriate. Instead of people saying "the 40 million record selling artist Prince" they would say "the 100 million record selling artist Prince". It's advertising.

Exactly, on top of that, I wasn't thinking someone would check RIAA nor did I intend to suggest this.

As I said, publicity and promotion - e.g. If Purple Rain was being remastered, and they updated the records and found two million extra had been shipped, then it's 15x million selling instead of 13x million, and whatever position it is on the all time charts moves up a gear, say it's the 10th biggest selling album ever in the US instead of the 15th or something.

It's not that the updated certification on its own would necessarily increase sales, but rather it's another (small tool) to use when promoting Prince - if they updated all the records and it increased his official sales by 20 million, that's a small story in itself.

But as I say, without Prince taking an interest there's no real reason for WB to do it as the only difference it would really make beyond a small press release is updating the RIAA site!

If it was tied in to remasters etc it would be more worth WBs while, hence asking how much it would cost WB to update each album!

Thanks for the explanations.

No probs - I'm not saying it would make all the difference if it was updated, though I think Purple Rain would need to go about 17x platinum to get into the top ten albums of all time in the US (that aren't compilations of some sort or double albums).

So - has it shipped four million in the last 17 years...?