I have read this criticism of Prince quite a few times but it seems to me that for every move he takes to make money he “sabotages” by taking two steps back. I have a hard time coming up with another artist of his caliber who consistently does this. I know it irritated some fans years ago when he quipped about being number 1 at the bank but to me he could have made millions for all the reasons people mention on this site - DVDs of concerts, Allowing access to YouTube to increase awareness amongst music listeners who may want to check out his catalogue, etc. So which is it? Is he really all about the money or not?

I certainly can't get inside Prince's mind to determine why he's made some of the decisions he's made or if he's about the money or not. Not for me to say and I'm not going to try. I'm certainly not angry or irritated about it though (like some fans you mentioned) because it's his life and his career.

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However, that being said, IMO, given Prince's gifts, persona & talent, he certainly could have done a lot of things over the years that would have made a lot more money. It isn't so much whether or not he's about the money as much as it is being all he can be or trying to reach his full potential. He's extremely gifted and that comes from God. Money isn't the be all and end all however there are a lot of wonderful & constructive things you can do with money if you're blessed with it. To me, it's all about being a good steward with the gifts, talents & wealth you're blessed with in life. We are accountable to God for what we do and do not do with our talents.

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At the end of the day, what really matters is integrity and follow through. When you promise something to someone, then it needs to be delivered. It's important to be a person of your word. I think that's really where some fans have gotten angry and frustrated over the years. I don't know why Prince has taken that approach (that follow through doesn't matter) but it matters a GREAT deal to God and to those to whom the promises have been made. If you're not going to follow through with something, than don't offer or promise it. It's really that simple.

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Prince (if you happen to read this), you're a very gifted, talented & blessed individual!

Well, having to have total control over everything isn't good either. You can be independent and still have awesome people around you who can give honest opinions, feedback & assistance. It's too much to try to have control over everything. Heck, my business is small and I do EVERYTHING because I have to. Not by choice. I can't afford to hand off stuff. So, I do it all and it keeps me really busy especially since I have all the day to day life stuff to contend with on top of the business stuff. Prince doesn't have to do that. It's a BLESSING to have the money to be able to be independent and yet have a few fabulous people around you to assist. How you pick and choose the company you keep makes a HUGE difference in life & business. I don't know who Prince has around him assisting him with the day to day but all I can say is, a few good people that you can rely on and trust is a BLESSING. He should be able to hand off some things to good people and not feel the need to be so "in control". Hand off some of it to people that can be trusted (seek God in this regard). One person can't possibly do it all (with a business his size) and do it to the best of their ability. It's just too darn much. Other good people can excel in areas that you don't and it's worthwhile to invest in these types of people.

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[Edited 10/15/13 11:12am]

Ok so I gather from my fellow posters that it is about his unrelenting need for control. So I guess a better question from me is what has his need for control cost him monetarily? If it has cost him millions is the criticism about him being about the money essentially unfair because I feel like he has left a lot of money on the table for too many reasons to list.

dreaminaboutu said:

Ok so I gather from my fellow posters that it is about his unrelenting need for control. So I guess a better question from me is what has his need for control cost him monetarily? If it has cost him millions is the criticism about him being about the money essentially unfair because I feel like he has left a lot of money on the table for too many reasons to list.

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I guess I'm not familiar with some of the criticisms that are floating around. You mentioned that he has been criticized for "being about the money". What does that mean? I honestly need to be filled in. Who is criticizing him for that and in reference to what? Specifics would be great.

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Any good business person is about making money. Making money IS NOT a crime. It's what business people do. They're in it to make a profit. Capitalism IS NOT A CRIME. Making a profit is NOT A CRIME. Yes, Prince is an artist but he's also an independent businessman. I do not fault Prince for wanting to make money. If people are criticizing him for wanting to make money, then they need their heads examined. Whoever they are, they aren't wise and they aren't business people.

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I agree that Prince has left a lot on the table. I hope that changes.

Oh yea, and one more thing. . . .

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There are a lot of jealous people out there who don't want to see other people succeed. Therefore, they condemn those who have the drive and potential to succeed. I don't know who the critics are but I would lay a significant amount of money on it that their motive is jealousy. These are the type of people that I call "dross" that you want to stay away from (and get rid of). Keep mature people around you that truly want to see you reach your potential, are behind you, rooting for you and truly want you to grow & be all that God created you to be.

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Just my .

Tempest said:

dreaminaboutu said:

Ok so I gather from my fellow posters that it is about his unrelenting need for control. So I guess a better question from me is what has his need for control cost him monetarily? If it has cost him millions is the criticism about him being about the money essentially unfair because I feel like he has left a lot of money on the table for too many reasons to list.

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I guess I'm not familiar with some of the criticisms that are floating around. You mentioned that he has been criticized for "being about the money". What does that mean? I honestly need to be filled in. Who is criticizing him for that and in reference to what? Specifics would be great.

*

Any good business person is about making money. Making money IS NOT a crime. It's what business people do. They're in it to make a profit. Capitalism IS NOT A CRIME. Making a profit is NOT A CRIME. Yes, Prince is an artist but he's also an independent businessman. I do not fault Prince for wanting to make money. If people are criticizing him for wanting to make money, then they need their heads examined. Whoever they are, they aren't wise and they aren't business people.

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I agree that Prince has left a lot on the table. I hope that changes.

Well, I'm certainly no businessman, thank God. Capitalism and making a profit may not be a crime, but in capitalist societies money is made at the expense and suffering of many people. So, while I don't totally condemn capitalism, I don't think it's something to celebrate. On the contrary, it needs to be controlled and corrected all the time.

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My post has nothing to do with Prince, by the way.

No dvd's, no re-masters, no new album.

Prince is only releasing albums (and dvd's? and re-masters!) in case he is payed millions of $$$$$$$$$.

He won't release anything like that especially for the fans. He doesn' care for the needs of the fans.

It seems like he cares more about the money. Yeah I said it, IMHO.

Javi said:

Tempest said:

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I guess I'm not familiar with some of the criticisms that are floating around. You mentioned that he has been criticized for "being about the money". What does that mean? I honestly need to be filled in. Who is criticizing him for that and in reference to what? Specifics would be great.

*

Any good business person is about making money. Making money IS NOT a crime. It's what business people do. They're in it to make a profit. Capitalism IS NOT A CRIME. Making a profit is NOT A CRIME. Yes, Prince is an artist but he's also an independent businessman. I do not fault Prince for wanting to make money. If people are criticizing him for wanting to make money, then they need their heads examined. Whoever they are, they aren't wise and they aren't business people.

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I agree that Prince has left a lot on the table. I hope that changes.

Well, I'm certainly no businessman, thank God. Capitalism and making a profit may not be a crime, but in capitalist societies money is made at the expense and suffering of many people. So, while I don't totally condemn capitalism, I don't think it's something to celebrate. On the contrary, it needs to be controlled and corrected all the time.

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My post has nothing to do with Prince, by the way.

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I take it you're a Communist?

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Good business people are the ones who make & provide jobs for other people. I have no idea what suffering you're talking about. Sounds like political propaganda to me. Without business people, most people would not have a job. Nuff said.

Tempest said:

Javi said:

Well, I'm certainly no businessman, thank God. Capitalism and making a profit may not be a crime, but in capitalist societies money is made at the expense and suffering of many people. So, while I don't totally condemn capitalism, I don't think it's something to celebrate. On the contrary, it needs to be controlled and corrected all the time.

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My post has nothing to do with Prince, by the way.

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I take it you're a Communist?

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Good business people are the ones who make & provide jobs for other people. I have no idea what suffering you're talking about. Sounds like political propaganda to me. Without business people, most people would not have a job. Nuff said.

You have no idea of what suffering I'm talking about? OK, then nuff said. And no, I'm not a Communist.

SuperSoulFighter said:

^You don't have to be a communist to be critical of the bad sides of capitalism The financial crisis proved that it has its shortcomings. But this is something for the P&R forum. Could be interesting...

Agree. It seems that criticising Capitalism makes you directly a Communist... I don't find nothing offensive in the word "communist", by the way, but I certainly ain't one.

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But, like you say, this should be in another forum...

There is WAY more good in capitalism than bad.

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As I stated previously, without capitalism and good business people, there wouldn't be any jobs.

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Btw, the financial crisis is due to EXCESSIVE government involvement in capital markets.

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I won't get into all that because that discussion belongs in P & R.

Javi said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

^You don't have to be a communist to be critical of the bad sides of capitalism The financial crisis proved that it has its shortcomings. But this is something for the P&R forum. Could be interesting...

Agree. It seems that criticising Capitalism makes you directly a Communist... I don't find nothing offensive in the word "communist", by the way, but I certainly ain't one.

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But, like you say, this should be in another forum...

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Do you currently live in a Communist country?

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If not, I suggest moving to North Korea. You might change your mind about that.

^ I gues Javi is from Spain or Italy... maybe Greece..

Those countries are having secere troubles, people are suffering a LOT.....

Try to educate yourself about the crises in Europe..

Tempest said:

Javi said:

Agree. It seems that criticising Capitalism makes you directly a Communist... I don't find nothing offensive in the word "communist", by the way, but I certainly ain't one.

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But, like you say, this should be in another forum...

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Do you currently live in a Communist country?

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If not, I suggest moving to North Korea. You might change your mind about that.

You don't seem to be prone to nuances, do you? Capitalism is good, Communism is evil, and that's all. I don't have to move to North Korea to know the atrocities Communist governments can carry out; I'm well aware of that.

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However, I'm also aware of the outstanding role Communists have played on fighting Fascism during the last century, and of the outstanding role they have played in order to improve the labour conditions during the last two centuries.

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And I'm also aware of the big damages Capitalism can provoke. That's why I said on my first post that "Capitalism needs to be controlled and corrected". A sentence that doesn't make me a Communist, like you say; it only makes me a person sensitive to the "grey" areas, and not only to "black" and "white".

[Edited 10/16/13 0:52am]

@Javi You're absolutely free to embrace Communism. However, until you've actually lived under it, I'd be very hesitant to sing it's praises. Just sayin'.

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@thedance I'm well aware of what's happening in Europe. However, you need to get to the underlying cause of what's going on and not just embrace political propaganda. It isn't capitalism that's the problem.

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Maybe you're the one that needs to get educated?

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Feel free to discuss further w/o me.

Tempest said:

@Javi You're absolutely free to embrace Communism. However, until you've actually lived under it, I'd be very hesitant to sing it's praises. Just sayin'.

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@thedance I'm well aware of what's happening in Europe. However, you need to get to the underlying cause of what's going on and not just embrace political propaganda. It isn't capitalism that's the problem.

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Maybe you're the one that needs to get educated?

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Feel free to discuss further w/o me.

I know I'm free to embrace Communism! But, like I've said, I don't do it. I just respect (and even admire) what they've done for the working classes and against Fascism, as I also criticise the atrocities they have carried out while in power. What I argue is that things aren't only "black" or "white", neither with Capitalism nor with Communism.

[Edited 10/16/13 2:13am]

no...prince isnt all about the money...my answer to anyone who says that is simply "around the world in a day" ...he has always been a control freak...always..what has happened since he broke free of warners is that the controlling aspect of his nature has damaged his career..strange decisions..suing websites and fans...trying to control his music on the internet...his distribution methods since 1995 have been a mess and the fact that no-one has an influence over his recorded output has seen the quality of his output become less and less (with one or two exceptions)..

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no...its not all about the money..i wouldnt be the fan i am if i really thought that and he wouldnt be the artist he is if it was..of course money is important but its not the be all for him .

If he was all about the money, you'd be hearing his music all over adverts, product endorsements. There'd be no quirky instrumental albums and religious clap-trap. He would've released an album every 3/4 years in the 80s and milked the fucking shit out of them. Forget career suicide like changing his stage name and doing drag.

SuperSoulFighter said:

No! Prince is all about CONTROL!

P and some people thinks he is.

But effectively due to his style of doing business (financial and otherwise) he is losing control.

I was and I am witness to exactly that.

From the goons that used to patrol concerts back in the early 90's to choosing local promotors: nowadays it's geared for lowest price instead of optimum control.

To quote Allan Leeds (and he, for one, should know):"in the end it was all about the money".

Tempest said:

SuperSoulFighter said:

Tempest said:

@Javi You're absolutely free to embrace Communism. However, until you've actually lived under it, I'd be very hesitant to sing it's praises. Just sayin'.

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@thedance I'm well aware of what's happening in Europe. However, you need to get to the underlying cause of what's going on and not just embrace political propaganda. It isn't capitalism that's the problem.

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Maybe you're the one that needs to get educated?

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Feel free to discuss further w/o me.

OMG! Ayn Rand and Senator McCarthy had a baby!

Yeah, I also thought about McCarthy. What an obsession with Communism! Didn't know Ayn Rand, I made a small research, and yeah, very appropiate!

[Edited 10/16/13 13:40pm]

The continuing American obsession with the word Communism is beyond bizarre.