With all his talk of not wanting to release music unless he can insure "monetization" to his satisfaction, is Prince really getting the returns on his Purple Music Inc. releases?

Dance 4 Me, RnR Love Affair, and now it looks like Screw Driver will also be released on Purple Music (at least there's artwork being circulated). The singles end up on iTunes, even though Prince himself has complained about iTunes's fee structure/royalty rates.

So from Prince's perspective, why is going this route--a small indie European-based label known for house mixes--better than selling the music himself on his own site? I can't imagine it's all that much more profitable. Purple Music doesn't have the heft to launch huge marketing campaigns. Maybe it can get radio play in some European countries? It still relies on youtube (which Prince is late in embracing).

What do you think Prince is getting out of this arrangement that he could not do himself?

I suspect they offer him money upfront.

SpiritOtter said:

What you allude to does, of course, make sense. But perhaps you make one critical mistake, that Prince utilises left-brain logic. He has consistently demonstrated that he doesn't intrinsically operate in the rational world. Thus, he probably likes the affiliation because of the label's name. love, Spirit

Yes that is certainly a factor!

jaawwnn said:

I suspect they offer him money upfront.

But is Jamie Lewis rolling in it like that?

I'm thinking of the recent conversations Prince has been instigating through his apparent surrogate Dr. Funkenberry about a "fan-run site" paying upfront for music. How much money is Jamie Lewis paying up front?

NuPwrSoul said:

jaawwnn said:

I suspect they offer him money upfront.

But is Jamie Lewis rolling in it like that?

I'm thinking of the recent conversations Prince has been instigating through his apparent surrogate Dr. Funkenberry about a "fan-run site" paying upfront for music. How much money is Jamie Lewis paying up front?

Ha, fair point. How much does prince charge for a song? Is he charging or discounting them for remixes? I have no idea.

Maybe prince really just saw purple and went with it but most of his music has come out in recent years via strange deals with newspapers, target etc. I would assume these deals have involved money upfront.

the benefits?

the benefits are that the songs actually get released. we get access to high quality versions of them and he gets some money for them.

what's the downside, honestly?

yeah, there are a bunch of remixes tacked on that none of us care about or are ever going to listen to all the way through, but the remixes are the only reason this Purple Music label is involved at all.

they're easy enough to ignore, and if they are the vehicle to getting more Prince material, I don't see the downside.

they came up with the $$$$$ for a deal (and likely an advance).

I don't see the downside for Prince at all.

errant said:

the benefits?

the benefits are that the songs actually get released. we get access to high quality versions of them and he gets some money for them.

what's the downside, honestly?

yeah, there are a bunch of remixes tacked on that none of us care about or are ever going to listen to all the way through, but the remixes are the only reason this Purple Music label is involved at all.

they're easy enough to ignore, and if they are the vehicle to getting more Prince material, I don't see the downside.

Don't get me wrong--I wasn't complaining. And I certainly wasn't questioning the benefits for US. Yes I know we get the songs released (albeit with crappy remixes attached).

My question is more about the mechanics of the arrangement. In light of Prince's recent statements about wanting money up front for his releases, I'm just wondering what kind of money he is getting up front. I can't imagine Lewis is fronting a whole lot of money given that it's an indie label... and I doubt sales are through the roof with limited marketing.

jaawwnn said:

NuPwrSoul said:

But is Jamie Lewis rolling in it like that?

I'm thinking of the recent conversations Prince has been instigating through his apparent surrogate Dr. Funkenberry about a "fan-run site" paying upfront for music. How much money is Jamie Lewis paying up front?

Ha, fair point. How much does prince charge for a song? Is he charging or discounting them for remixes? I have no idea.

Maybe prince really just saw purple and went with it but most of his music has come out in recent years via strange deals with newspapers, target etc. I would assume these deals have involved money upfront.

Right... those were million dollar deals, though. I doubt he's getting that up front from Lewis.

Like my previous post, I'm just wondering what or how Prince monetizes his own music. How much does he feel he should be paid in advance for it, and what he's willing to accept.

whatever the benefits are - they are never high with a single release. i just hope that they continiue to release prince records! they did a very good job here in germany! the first time in ages that i could buy a new prince CD and Picture vinyl in a store!! alone for that i hope it goes further! radioairplay was strong (32 on mainstream radio) and rnr love affair was the 10th best sold cd-single in the week of the release! if they had release it digital without the delay prince would had have a top 20 entry for sure...

and all that without a major company!!

...just the house remixes are not my cup of tea

trickster said:

whatever the benefits are - they are never high with a single release. i just hope that they continiue to release prince records! they did a very good job here in germany! the first time in ages that i could buy a new prince CD and Picture vinyl in a store!! alone for that i hope it goes further! radioairplay was strong (32 on mainstream radio) and rnr love affair was the 10th best sold cd-single in the week of the release! if they had release it digital without the delay prince would had have a top 20 entry for sure...

and all that without a major company!!

...just the house remixes are not my cup of tea

Thanks for your response... sheds light. Because it's having little or no impact in the US market, but it looks good for the European market. Makes sense that he's more interested in touring Europe over the past few years.

[Edited 1/26/13 9:28am]

It's a good deal I suppose. That is until Mr. P burns his bridges with them too.

Using Purple Music mr Prince has a hassle-free deal.

He sends them some artwork, the recordings and the contract.

They send mr Prince some cash.

They make some remixes and put the original audio with the remixes on CD's, vinyl, etc.

They sell that stuff.

Of course a DIY approach could yield more for mr Prince but also costs a bit more effort.

The Purple Music approach is largely in line with the way he has been doing his business the past few years.

75d934accfec4aac2c34434219b2ee8361e58e2f

[Edited 1/26/13 9:35am]

i just like that he still understands his color without putting his hand... on his crotch

NuPwrSoul said:

jaawwnn said:

Ha, fair point. How much does prince charge for a song? Is he charging or discounting them for remixes? I have no idea.

Maybe prince really just saw purple and went with it but most of his music has come out in recent years via strange deals with newspapers, target etc. I would assume these deals have involved money upfront.

Right... those were million dollar deals, though. I doubt he's getting that up front from Lewis.

Like my previous post, I'm just wondering what or how Prince monetizes his own music. How much does he feel he should be paid in advance for it, and what he's willing to accept.

Maybe Purple music doesn't really pay him that much, but neither expects much dedication from him either and are already very happy to have the Purple man himself releasing songs on their label?

I don't know really, but it seems like a good investment for them. I am not sure what Prince has to gain, except that he is totally free and believes they are able to get his records sold, in Europe at least.

Well i can't speak for the distribution in mainland Europe but these never seem to appear here in the UK and i'm not fanatical enough to pay over £8 via Amazon just for a single I've already heard.

It's probably for mutual benefit, Prince gets his music out to radio and a small label like them get kudos for distributing a Prince release.

I doubt much money changes hands as they are a small label....but Prince probably gets a good cut and the satisfaction from giving the release to a small label who does what he asks and gets him played on the radio and one where he is not answerable to 'the man' / a multinational record company out of touch with musicians.

[Edited 1/28/13 10:43am]

I think Prince has been feverishly recording material and ignoring distribution to be honest.

It seems like he's hit the breaks on that forumla lately and is possibly going to release stuff.

i still think he would ship a lot more units if he'd put 3 or 4 new songs

on a single.

having an actual disc of a new prince song is nice, but i'm not really

tempted that much to buy these singles since they only really have 1

song on them and a bunch of mixes i'll never listen to again.

if they'd have an 'extended' version of the a-side and a couple of new

and unreleased tracks on the b-side, i'd order one, even if it was just

that little bit more expensive.

I think he likes dealing with people where he's the big kahuna. It's like getting little bits of fluff like Mayte, Anna Garcia etc, etc - he's in control of the situation. I'm sure Purple Music say how high if P. says jump.

The sales probably aren't that much different in numbers than any other outlet for a single he chooses and decides to do barely any promo at all - i.e. just the hardcore buying it.

[Edited 1/28/13 11:11am]

To everyone speculating as I am that Prince is not gaining much financially out of this... that's what perplexes me about his apparent hesitation to use the web more directly and more fully to distribute his music. He seems to suggest that he'll only do it if he gets paid in advance.

So I'm trying to follow the logic here (yes I know I know)... but I wonder what Purple Music is paying him. If it is not that much--what would Prince expect to be paid if a website say licensed to distribute Screwdriver, etc.?

NuPwrSoul said:

He seems to suggest that he'll only do it if he gets paid in advance.

I would like to believe that he has become more willing to let go of that dogma.

I also hope that he sees that advances are one of the main reasons why the music industry doesn't work.

Jamie Lewis is in the club music scene since day one. He worked with very famous producers/acts in that genre, run an exclusive record store (for years) specialized in electronic music near Zurich Switzerland and he's a successful dj that played in the worlds most famous "house" clubs around the world. Purple music as a label is all in all very successful businesswise regarding the fact that "house" music is still some kind of underground movement.... or maybe better: it kept that underground flair somehow. I'm sure that Lewis has very very good contacts/network in the worlds club scene and the electronic music industry.

He started as a DJ in the 80ies playing Disco Funk and told in an interwiev that he was/is a big Prince fan. He also said that it's the highest goal for him and his label to collaborate with Prince (an artist that caliber). In the interview he told also that the Remixes are only one part in the collabo/ contract. (Collaboration is what Lewis calls working together with Prince and his management)

He started his whole business from the ground and is producer/recordseller/label/chief/dj/event organisator all in one person. Even I'm not a fan of his music style I have to say that he deserves some props for his achievement. I mean he didn't start in NY or London!!!!

I think the attitude and enthusiasm of Lewis and the way he is working brings nice results (effort, commitment, money, promo, contract conditions) for Prince releasing a "little" song from time to time...

Further the products of PurpleMusicInc. are quite nice! C'mon Picture Disc!!!! quite exotic in these days... haha. (cool for the fans)

BTW: I think selling music is only a side business for Prince nowadays. How much money did he make during the Dakota weekend!?!? I think this is the future! Small club, no big PA, no light show, no big stage BUT high prices for an exclusive, intimate live experience with a giant of music. Even a DVD night or DJ set (maybe with unreleased songs/remixes) will sell out in most cities...

[Edited 1/29/13 3:26am]

[Edited 1/29/13 3:28am]

spitty said:

Jamie Lewis is in the club music scene since day one. He worked with very famous producers/acts in that genre, run an exclusive record store (for years) specialized in electronic music near Zurich Switzerland and he's a successful dj that played in the worlds most famous "house" clubs around the world. Purple music as a label is all in all very successful businesswise regarding the fact that "house" music is still some kind of underground movement.... or maybe better: it kept that underground flair somehow. I'm sure that Lewis has very very good contacts/network in the worlds club scene and the electronic music industry.

He started as a DJ in the 80ies playing Disco Funk and told in an interwiev that he was/is a big Prince fan. He also said that it's the highest goal for him and his label to collaborate with Prince (an artist that caliber). In the interview he told also that the Remixes are only one part in the collabo/ contract. (Collaboration is what Lewis calls working together with Prince and his management)

He started his whole business from the ground and is producer/recordseller/label/chief/dj/event organisator all in one person. Even I'm not a fan of his music style I have to say that he deserves some props for his achievement. I mean he didn't start in NY or London!!!!

I think the attitude and enthusiasm of Lewis and the way he is working brings nice results (effort, commitment, money, promo, contract conditions) for Prince releasing a "little" song from time to time...

Further the products of PurpleMusicInc. are quite nice! C'mon Picture Disc!!!! quite exotic in these days... haha. (cool for the fans)

BTW: I think selling music is only a side business for Prince nowadays. How much money did he make during the Dakota weekend!?!? I think this is the future! Small club, no big PA, no light show, no big stage BUT high prices for an exclusive, intimate live experience with a giant of music. Even a DVD night or DJ set (maybe with unreleased songs/remixes) will sell out in most cities...

[Edited 1/29/13 3:26am]

[Edited 1/29/13 3:28am]

and for Jamie a dream came true... and as you wrote, he worked hard for it! I'm happy for Jamie!

I don't think P makes any significant money with these releases, nor that he aims to. It's more a way of still being around, releasing physical collectibles and supporting an independant label whose name is based on a Prince song/concept. It would have been kinda silly NOT to release music on a label named Purple Music

On the other hand I guess this small label gets much publicity and some decent money from these releases, so it's obviously a great deal for them.

Like some others have already stated it's probably just a no-hassle way to get the songs out on a physical format without having to offer the type of material for the big labels that they'd expect from him (pop songs with strong hooks and big beats, mainly).

He could get the songs pressed on CD or LP himself as well on "NPG records", but this way he doesn't have to hire people to do it for him. I doubt he's interested in handling all the technical stuff that getting records pressed and distributed requires. Too much work in case he doesn't expect to sell too many singles or EP type of releases.

Physical copies are becoming less and less relevant for the mainstream market, but the dominant mindset still among music enthusiasts seems to be that if you just offer downloads they are not comparable to "real releases". I think it's silly, but that's what many people still seem to think.

Well at least in germany the release and the promotion worked. Rock and Roll love affair got played a lot on mainstream and dance radio stations. On the mainstream programme the original version and on the dance stations the jamie lewis mixes.

I think Prince loves to work with some people who are dedicated to him and who share his passion and not some big label where he is only a number, where all of a sudden the CEO is changing and he stays with people he doesn`t know.

With purple music as a small label he can release a single from one day to another like we see it now with screwdriver.

The only downside for me is, that the promotion for the rest of the world is not working like it should be.

But we will see what is happening with screwdriver...

novabrkr said:

Physical copies are becoming less and less relevant for the mainstream market, but the dominant mindset still among music enthusiasts seems to be that if you just offer downloads they are not comparable to "real releases". I think it's silly, but that's what many people still seem to think.

These people will have disappeared within 10 or 15 years. U know the saying: "old people are too old, they need 2 die"

I appreciate everyone's responses. And of course at the risk of sounding too American... these releases are doing very little for Prince in the American market. Jamie Lewis may be a respectable well connected name in the club scene especially in Europe, but Prince is not making club music; and Purple Music doesn't have the reach to push the single in the U.S.

It's kinda sad that Prince has not found a way to promote his productions successfully in the U.S. (again not trying to be geographically biased, but...). Because his own "brand" almost solidified as a legend act who is not doing anything new... and a stellar production like "Superconductor" languishes while Andy Allo basically has to promote herself whether that means calling people up on the phone herself or playing at obscure Xmas tree lighting ceremonies :-/

linus4000 said: