As spotted in the discussion thread, the new version of This Could Be Us has been released to services such as Google Play Music, not by Warners, but by Virgin/EMI.

This is an interesting development. I've released two albums through Virgin/EMI myself and they are very artist friendly, so I guess Prince was able to strike a good deal with them. I wonder if they'll be the ones releasing the physical album too? I wonder what this means for Prince's relationship with Warner Bros. Perhaps that'll just be focused on catalog.

This page is being updated since this morning:

http://musique.fnac.com/a9005854/Prince-Hitnrun-phase-one-CD-album

Maybe we'll see more details on who is distributing it...

NPG Records on iTunes

Virgin/EMI is Universal which purchased Capitol/Virgin/EMI awhile back so it basically who will be press and sell the it for NPG RECORDS

I don't see it on Google Play?

Ymaginatif said:

I don't see it on Google Play?

Sigh! Is it so hard to use the search button? Some people are unbelievable! They ask a question to other people, when they can just ask their computers!

Triple sigh!

Here is it: https://play.google.com/s...&hl=en

(seriously: it seems Google Play only gives you the option to buy the song, not to stream it as part of their membership? I didn't even know that existed ...)

... And what happened with the WBR deal? The Purple Rain re-issue...

... Does this mean HitNRun will see a phsyical release through Virgin/EMI?

It was always clear to me that the WB contract was only about the back catalogue and the last 2 albums, there was no reason for Prince to tie himself to an exclusive deal with WB regarding new material when he's had only one-off deals for 18 years.

The Fnac page also offers presale of an album on CD for 16/10, so it seems to mean the Tidal deal is only a temporary exclusive stream and the album will get a proper, normal release in October in both physical and digital formats.

This should put an end to all the moaning.

PurpleMedley122 said:

What happened to "record contracts are like slavery"? Since '96, He's constantly been making one off deals and switching record companies like he switches girlfriends. I guess he suddenly "cares" about artists rights only when things don't go his way or when it gives him good publicity...

Prince has owned the masters of every record released since Emancipation and never signed an exclusive deal ever since, so he does not consider himself as being enslaved in those cases.

However I still find his business strategy full of hypocrisy since those majors still own the masters of, and have exclusive deals with thousands of other artists.

To keep the slave metaphor, it would be like a freed slave who'd bitch at slave owners but would at the same time make business with them. Those "slavemaster majors" make money with every one off deal, Prince shouldn't contribute to their business if he condemns their actions.

I had thought the "EMI" brand had been retired when Universal bought them, but I guess not:

http://www.gigwise.com/ne...-in-the-uk

However it seems to be a UK operation (in the US Virgin is under Capitol Music Group) and all the US sites have it simply listed as "NPG Records Inc.".

Maybe Virgin EMI is the digital aggregator for Europe?

Prince collects record labels like Pokemon, gotta catch 'em all.

NouveauDance said:

Marco81 said:

This page is being updated since this morning:

http://musique.fnac.com/a9005854/Prince-Hitnrun-phase-one-CD-album

Maybe we'll see more details on who is distributing it...

what a world - there is a link at the bottom of that page to buy a P bootleg

http://musique.fnac.com/a7324755/Prince-Sound-and-vision-Inclus-DVD-bonus-CD-album#int=9005854|NonApplicable|L2

Militant said:

As spotted in the discussion thread, the new version of This Could Be Us has been released to services such as Google Play Music, not by Warners, but by Virgin/EMI.

This is an interesting development. I've released two albums through Virgin/EMI myself and they are very artist friendly, so I guess Prince was able to strike a good deal with them. I wonder if they'll be the ones releasing the physical album too? I wonder what this means for Prince's relationship with Warner Bros. Perhaps that'll just be focused on catalog.

Don't know where you are seeing that... It only says NPG Records for me, I'm using a browser in USA... Maybe he's planning to distribute it overseas with that but as far as what I see it doesn't show any of that when I click it.

feeluupp said:

Militant said:

As spotted in the discussion thread, the new version of This Could Be Us has been released to services such as Google Play Music, not by Warners, but by Virgin/EMI.

This is an interesting development. I've released two albums through Virgin/EMI myself and they are very artist friendly, so I guess Prince was able to strike a good deal with them. I wonder if they'll be the ones releasing the physical album too? I wonder what this means for Prince's relationship with Warner Bros. Perhaps that'll just be focused on catalog.

Don't know where you are seeing that... It only says NPG Records for me, I'm using a browser in USA... Maybe he's planning to distribute it overseas with that but as far as what I see it doesn't show any of that when I click it.

Yeah, in the US it's just "NPG Records Inc.", in the UK it's Virgin EMI as seen here:

http://www.junodownload.c...878072-02/

Someone in France mentioned something about seeing Def Jam/Universal attached to the song...it seems Universal is the digital aggregator for the song in international markets under their various brands.

[Edited 8/28/15 9:05am]

databank said:

PurpleMedley122 said:

What happened to "record contracts are like slavery"? Since '96, He's constantly been making one off deals and switching record companies like he switches girlfriends. I guess he suddenly "cares" about artists rights only when things don't go his way or when it gives him good publicity...

Prince has owned the masters of every record released since Emancipation and never signed an exclusive deal ever since, so he does not consider himself as being enslaved in those cases.

However I still find his business strategy full of hypocrisy since those majors still own the masters of, and have exclusive deals with thousands of other artists.

To keep the slave metaphor, it would be like a freed slave who'd bitch at slave owners but would at the same time make business with them. Those "slavemaster majors" make money with every one off deal, Prince shouldn't contribute to their business if he condemns their actions.

Choosing different record companies makes sense to me. As I recall, a large part of his slavery argument was keeping his masters and putting out music as he sees fit. Not signing long-term deals with any particular record company and owning his masters does just that.

"Record contracts are like slavery" is a generalization, as well as a bit of hyperbole to further the point. The freed slave metaphor can be used about any person on any subject having the do with any unjustice (perceived or otherwise).

Example - Corporate America has been notorious for being racist and sexist. Many, many, many of those vicitimized people have complained about the issue. Should those people not speak out in Corporate America because they climb the ladder a bit (meaning they are successful there)? Of course not; someone has to speak up, and every bit helps. Should a person be run out of the (music) business because they don't like how the infrastructure is setup? Or should they speak up (Prince), and maybe shed light on what he/she feels to be a ridiculous situation? Taylor Swift and Beyonce might not have the freedoms they enjoy if not for Prince (and others) who made it a point to announce that the artists should have more rights and get a much larger piece of the pie.

qobuz.com, which I usually buy digital wav from has it listen as Universal Music GmbH

http://www.qobuz.com/gb-e...6059600029

[Edited 8/28/15 9:30am]

Ymaginatif said:

Ymaginatif said:

I don't see it on Google Play?

Sigh! Is it so hard to use the search button? Some people are unbelievable! They ask a question to other people, when they can just ask their computers!

Triple sigh!

Here is it: https://play.google.com/s...&hl=en

(seriously: it seems Google Play only gives you the option to buy the song, not to stream it as part of their membership? I didn't even know that existed ...)

You went from "Sigh" to "Triple sigh" You skipped "Double sigh" which is a breach of etiquette. It's similar to going straight from "I double dog dare you" to "I triple dog dare you", thus skipping the all-important "I triple dare you" step. See below:



In the future, please observe all applicable sighing and daring etiquette. Thank you.

PurpleMedley122 said:

What happened to "record contracts are like slavery"? Since '96, He's constantly been making one off deals and switching record companies like he switches girlfriends. I guess he suddenly "cares" about artists rights only when things don't go his way or when it gives him good publicity...

Prince would never admit this,but he knows that he needs these big record companies.He tried to do the "independent" thing but it didn't work out.Distribution and marketing are two things that he can't do on his own.

Prince working with EMI might be good for

the WB remasters.

maybe Warner now can just go after the project of

the PR remaster

and do

the right thing.

Prince should not be involved with

the remasters.

I thought we are always told Prince can't get record deals?

Militant said:

As spotted in the discussion thread, the new version of This Could Be Us has been released to services such as Google Play Music, not by Warners, but by Virgin/EMI.

This is an interesting development. I've released two albums through Virgin/EMI myself and they are very artist friendly, so I guess Prince was able to strike a good deal with them. I wonder if they'll be the ones releasing the physical album too? I wonder what this means for Prince's relationship with Warner Bros. Perhaps that'll just be focused on catalog.

[Snip - luv4u]

SoulAlive said:

PurpleMedley122 said:

What happened to "record contracts are like slavery"? Since '96, He's constantly been making one off deals and switching record companies like he switches girlfriends. I guess he suddenly "cares" about artists rights only when things don't go his way or when it gives him good publicity...

Prince would never admit this,but he knows that he needs these big record companies.He tried to do the "independent" thing but it didn't work out.Distribution and marketing are two things that he can't do on his own.

But does he really? The last 2 records were quite embarrassing sales performanes, especially PLEC. Surely he could sell those kinds of numbers independently, no?

SchlomoThaHomo said:

SoulAlive said:

Prince would never admit this,but he knows that he needs these big record companies.He tried to do the "independent" thing but it didn't work out.Distribution and marketing are two things that he can't do on his own.

But does he really? The last 2 records were quite embarrassing sales performanes, especially PLEC. Surely he could sell those kinds of numbers independently, no?

He can easily, hell he can sell way more than that. The problem is his pure business incompetence in the side of promotion (can't even bother to appear at AOA/PLEC announcement at GMA), distribution (Crystal Ball fiasco, NPGMC, "failiure to ship $77 t-shirts" LOtUSFLOW3R.com), etc...

MIRvmn said:

well I'm relieved that the album won't be available only on Tidal

That is a relief

iTunes page says 2015 NPG Records, Inc.

luv4u said:

MIRvmn said:

well I'm relieved that the album won't be available only on Tidal

That is a relief

Maybe a sticky?