...passing on a message from Prince's manager, Kiran Sharma.

"We are pleased to announce that Prince and Universal have reached a mutual agreement in terminating their long standing publishing deal. It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music."

Remember, this is for Prince's PUBLISHING contract, not a record deal.

I just read this.

Someone fill a music business unknowing person, like my self, in on what this means? What shackles does it release and what did they do when they had a deal? Because all i am aware of is that they distributed 3121.

PRINCE Is A Free Agent As He & Universal End Publishing Deal

http://www.drfunkenberry....hing-deal/

PRINCE is also not signed to any record labels as well and considers himself a free agent when Drfunkenberry spoke to him about this late last month.

Sharma added "this is a great opportunity for PRINCE to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music."

PRINCE expressed interest in trying new mediums to release music and relished in being totally a free agent.

It's pretty cool since Universal is EVIL

WetDream said:

I just read this.

Someone fill a music business unknowing person, like my self, in on what this means? What shackles does it release and what did they do when they had a deal? Because all i am aware of is that they distributed 3121.

Prince entered into a publishing deal with UMPG around 1999/2000, and later renewed it, for collection of monies due on his works.

That is separate from a contract to handle the particular release of a recording (often under a record contract, but in more recent times in Prince's case, under a marketing and distribution deal).

You can generally find out about these things on sites such as:

http://entertainment.hows...alties.htm

So how does Prince collect his money now?

It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music.

I don't know what this means. It should be very exciting but it's still Prince, so no doubt he'll find some way to do whatever it is in a half arsed way.

banishedones666 said:

PRINCE Is A Free Agent As He & Universal End Publishing Deal

http://www.drfunkenberry....hing-deal/

PRINCE is also not signed to any record labels as well and considers himself a free agent when Drfunkenberry spoke to him about this late last month.

Sharma added "this is a great opportunity for PRINCE to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music."

PRINCE expressed interest in trying new mediums to release music and relished in being totally a free agent.

Surely it's much easier to have someone else collect this money for him?

Buy a box of Captn Crunch and get the latest prince record for free!

No artist ever did that before, what an exciting and fresh idea!!

Sad! Instead of concentrating on his music, he has now to take care of his publishing rights, too!

And just to get a bigger peace of the cake....

He doesn`t understand that you need professional people to do things like music publishing...

Stop playing games and make music again!

naffi said:

So Prince can set up his own version of iTunes/Spotify/Mogg to sell existing music and for any new releases of his own or other artists??

No, the internet is dead to him.

I read this as him and UMPG just ending their deal, and he will now (if he has not already) go and shop around for a new deal with another publishing administering company.

I didnt read it as he, and/or his staff, now administering it all themselves.

KeithyT said:

I read this as him and UMPG just ending their deal, and he will now (if he has not already) go and shop around for a new deal with another publishing administering company.

I didnt read it as he, and/or his staff, now administering it all themselves.

...the big trouble 2 come is......Noone now in the Record Industry want to work with Prince, Prince is unmanageable, capricious & obsessed with BIG money for a BIG deal he can make from his legacy!!

Oh shush. You dont think UMPG got a cut of royalties for administering on his behalf. These companies get PAID dude. I'm sure administering the use of his back catalogue is an attractive proposition.

Enough with this Prince is the root of all (musical) evil lark... he aint no different to any other artist in being a little demanding and wanting money.

KeithyT said:

I read this as him and UMPG just ending their deal, and he will now (if he has not already) go and shop around for a new deal with another publishing administering company.

I didnt read it as he, and/or his staff, now administering it all themselves.

Agreed... There is no way Prince will take on the responsibility of administering his publishing royalties and licenses all by himself. Who would he get to police the internet so strictly the way UMPG did for him?

More than likely he is shopping a new publishing deal. That, or his publishing will fall into disarray--and unlikely option since it would mean a lag in Prince getting royalties for his back-catalog, something valued at 8-10million a year last time I read. That's a lot of money to miss while he searches for a new option in adminstration.

(And I wish people would stop confusing publishing deals with record deals.)

KeithyT said:

I read this as him and UMPG just ending their deal, and he will now (if he has not already) go and shop around for a new deal with another publishing administering company.

I didnt read it as he, and/or his staff, now administering it all themselves.

This makes sense if not for all the free agent crap posted by the Doc. Whatever his plans are that gives the impression he's not rushing into antoher deal with a big company.

He probably needs his now free publishing rights to get a record deal more easily...more money, more control....

What about the music and the creativity in the artistic field? He seems more and more concerned about getting control over his music and getting more money...

[Edited 7/9/12 6:55am]

The 1st shoe 2 drop?

Bring back the NPGMC!! That way, he can put up what he wants and we will buy it!!

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Genesia said:

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Let's be honest and acknowledge that no one here knows the insights, if someone did something wrong, etc... It's all speculation.

Paisleyprk said:

Bring back the NPGMC!! That way, he can put up what he wants and we will buy it!!

ludwig said:

Genesia said:

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly - just as he was a willing participant in his contracts with WB - and his marriages. Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Let's be honest and acknowledge that no one here knows the insights, if someone did something wrong, etc... It's all speculation.

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say.

Prince always makes this big deal when his deals end, talking about his wonderful new "freedom," and how it opens all these amazing new horizons for his music. He makes it sound like it's always the other side holding him back.

And yet, nothing ever changes. He operates the way he always has: there are no re-masters and the vault stays closed.

Is this the same Universal MG that Def Leppard is having problems with over royalties related to digital downloads? DOH!!!

[Edited 7/9/12 7:46am]

Genesia said:

Has anyone else noticed how it's always someone else who keeps Prince from doing what he wants to do? He's never in the wrong - or to blame for anything.

Surely, he entered this arrangement willingly ...Yet, when things go sour, it's because the other party is "holding him back."

Prince, ever the victim.

Rebecca where are you getting this? The announcement from his manager makes no mention of things turning sour or UMPG keeping him from what he wants to do, or holding him back.

As Gav has reported it's just a simple 2 liner.

To all the other's fretting about the free agent stuff that is jseven's interspersed wording (and no disrespect to him, he was privileged enough to be able to ask Prince direct.), relating to Prince's record deal status.

SuperFurryAnimal said:

Is this the same Universal MG that Def Leppard is having problems with over royalties related to digital downloads? DOH!!!

[Edited 7/9/12 7:46am]

I think in Def Leppard's case Universal is the record company (relating to the record deal). but yes it is the same group.

Did you see their proposed solution to re-record their back catalogue (sounds familiar )

Primary Wave are their music publishing/adminstration company btw.

Def Leppard Sever Relationship With Universal Music Group Over Royalties

http://www.noisecreep.com...-universal