A couple months ago I speculated a deal with TIDAL, when some mebers were saying that's not true, his music still streams on other streaming platforms... Well it was just confirmed by Josh Welton in a recent interview that not only did Prince make a specific deal with TIDAL to release old material from vaults, videos, songs, etc... But it was because Prince made a deal with TIDAL based on a financial agreement, paying what "Prince deserves" for his album HitnRun.

It will be interesting to see how he juggles his future venture with TIDAL as well as his recently signed deal again with WB.

My speculation is Phase 2 will be released via TIDAL and the new 3EG album and possibly a new Prince Free Urself album will be released by WB and maybe in the future the still anticipated Purple Rain Reissue...

Article:

http://www.contactmusic.com/prince/news/tidal-s-big-money-offer-to-prince_4908126

Prince decided to release 'HITNRUN' on TIDAL because they offered to pay him what he ''felt it was worth''.

The 57-year-old musician opted to share his latest album exclusively on Jay Z's streaming service and producer Joshua Welton admitted money played a big part, along with the respect Jay Z showed for Prince's music.

He said: ''We believe in high quality music, we believe in artists coming together, we believe in artist ownership, we believe in people and we believe in community. The fact that TIDAL was willing to even pay for the album what Prince felt it was worth, that just showed the appreciation that Jay Z has for music and for Prince. TIDAL were the only ones who said 'we're going to pay you directly for the work that you do'.

''It was a beautiful decision that Prince made, based just on relationships. I don't think it took Prince long to make the decision, and fortunately Hannah [Joshua's wife and 3RDEYEGIRL drummer] and I met with Jay Z at a listening party. He's a really great guy, and the level of greatness that he brings to the table just adds to the great cause.''

Joshua also revealed that 'HITNRUN' features some new sounds that fans will not have heard before.

He told Gigwise: ''I would definitely say that people will put this on and say 'I have never heard this sound on a Prince record before'. I've heard that said. There's definitely some stuff that will tickle your ears a little bit.

''Prince is a creative, so it's not like he's going to constantly create the same thing. There's new inspiration - it's constantly moving. I don't think people have heard him in this light before, but you'll definitely be able to turn it up loud and get your groove on to it.''

Future speculated projects:

HitnRun: Phase 2

New 3EG Album

Prince Free Urself Album

Purple Rain Deluxe Remaster

All the talk of it's 'worth' and 'quality' music and yet no talk of irony.

feeluupp said:

Future speculated projects:

HitnRun: Phase 2

New 3EG Album

Prince Free Urself Album

Purple Rain Deluxe Remaster

i reckon phase 2 is free urself

Marrk said:

All the talk of it's 'worth' and 'quality' music and yet no talk of irony.

I think we've determined that Prince is severely irony impaired.

By "paying Prince what he felt it was worth" we're talking royalties, right? Because my understanding is that's what Tidal pays artists. I'm not aware of Tidal paying anyone a lump sum to distribute an album but if I'm wrong, please let me know.

RodeoSchro said:

By "paying Prince what he felt it was worth" we're talking royalties, right? Because my understanding is that's what Tidal pays artists. I'm not aware of Tidal paying anyone a lump sum to distribute an album but if I'm wrong, please let me know.

My guess is Prince is getting a lump sum. He always prefers to get paid up front and he knows from the sales of AOA / Plectrum that royalties on new material won't be enough to buy s Stake n Shake veggie burger.

Prince's problem has always been that he think's he studio work should command the prices he gets for live.

Jay Z probably convinced the ventrue capitalists to spend some of the marketing budget to bag a big name that is not under contract. If Tidal has a future, its by the big names supporting it to shed their long term record labels and move excusively to tidal, rather than offering exclusive titbits.

I bet they did give him a lump sum upfront payment but I doubt it was big money (even to Prince's low standards)

They probably gave him some six figure deal along with a slightly bumped rate on royalities.

Jay Z probably arranged $500k, paying dues to P's reputation, and from here on in P will get a increased royalty.

He'll find its not selling, collect little royalties, complain its someone elses fault, declare their is no money in the internet and withdraw to look his next corporate victim.

feeluupp said:

A couple months ago I speculated a deal with TIDAL, when some mebers were saying that's not true, his music still streams on other streaming platforms... Well it was just confirmed by Josh Welton in a recent interview that not only did Prince make a specific deal with TIDAL to release old material from vaults, videos, songs, etc... But it was because Prince made a deal with TIDAL based on a financial agreement, paying what "Prince deserves" for his album HitnRun.

It will be interesting to see how he juggles his future venture with TIDAL as well as his recently signed deal again with WB.

My speculation is Phase 2 will be released via TIDAL and the new 3EG album and possibly a new Prince Free Urself album will be released by WB and maybe in the future the still anticipated Purple Rain Reissue...

Article:

http://www.contactmusic.com/prince/news/tidal-s-big-money-offer-to-prince_4908126

Prince's producer Joshua Welton says the singer decided to release his new album 'HITNRUN' on TIDAL because they offered to pay him what he ''felt it was worth''.

Prince decided to release 'HITNRUN' on TIDAL because they offered to pay him what he ''felt it was worth''.

The 57-year-old musician opted to share his latest album exclusively on Jay Z's streaming service and producer Joshua Welton admitted money played a big part, along with the respect Jay Z showed for Prince's music.

He said: ''We believe in high quality music, we believe in artists coming together, we believe in artist ownership, we believe in people and we believe in community. The fact that TIDAL was willing to even pay for the album what Prince felt it was worth, that just showed the appreciation that Jay Z has for music and for Prince. TIDAL were the only ones who said 'we're going to pay you directly for the work that you do'.

''It was a beautiful decision that Prince made, based just on relationships. I don't think it took Prince long to make the decision, and fortunately Hannah [Joshua's wife and 3RDEYEGIRL drummer] and I met with Jay Z at a listening party. He's a really great guy, and the level of greatness that he brings to the table just adds to the great cause.''

Joshua also revealed that 'HITNRUN' features some new sounds that fans will not have heard before.

He told Gigwise: ''I would definitely say that people will put this on and say 'I have never heard this sound on a Prince record before'. I've heard that said. There's definitely some stuff that will tickle your ears a little bit.

''Prince is a creative, so it's not like he's going to constantly create the same thing. There's new inspiration - it's constantly moving. I don't think people have heard him in this light before, but you'll definitely be able to turn it up loud and get your groove on to it.''

Contradiction much?

feeluupp said:

"He's a really great guy, and the level of greatness that he brings to the table just adds to the great cause.''

Great quote!

Why do I get the feeling that Prince is sitting in a back room somewhere laughing his ass off?!

Eye wonder how much Jay Z paid ? is THE MAN!!!!

Yea, 300 million can't pay the rent. He knows he can do like ten shows a year and make massive bank, even if he gave all his albums and vault away free.

NorthC said:

Fuck all this shit. If I pay for music, I want to buy it, not rent it.

Same here.

Is there a naughty way of downloading the streams??

I only listen to music in my car, so fark using alll my data up on P's selfishness.

SquirrelMeat said:

He'll find its not selling, collect little royalties, complain its someone elses fault, declare their is no money in the internet and withdraw to look his next corporate victim.

This part doesn't make any sense. Why would he care about how much it sells? Thats for the record companies to recoupe. When he does up front deals he considers himself already paid, which is why he doesn't mind moving on from them as quickly as he does.

SquirrelMeat said:

Jay Z probably arranged $500k, paying dues to P's reputation, and from here on in P will get a increased royalty.

He'll find its not selling, collect little royalties, complain its someone elses fault, declare their is no money in the internet and withdraw to look his next corporate victim.

What sells? It's streaming.

once again, for prince it is just about the money ... and for jay-z its the hope that tidal gets some press again - last try maybe - it will be dead by next year i predict!

Joshua also said TIDAL was the only company willing to pay Prince for the privilege of releasign this turd.

The WB deal may have been just about the back catalog with the 2 albums last year tacked on in an ad hoc manner to get Prince's cooperation on the Purple Rain remaster. There were reports on the French fan forum that Warner France was supposed to release the new album in October but it was withdrawn (now to be distrubuted globally via Universal).

Reading between the lines of things Funkenberry said when he used to do the Spreecasts, WB wasn't really into putting out the new stuff (AOA/PE) and when you think about how Prince seems to be dragging his heels on the PR remaster and they missed the 30th Anniversary window, it's not surprising Prince had to find another option for his new material. I think his relationship with WB is fine, but I think Prince also understands they are only interested in his legacy releases.

In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if the distribution of HitNRun by Universal was arranged through Jay Z's Roc Nation Records (that have a global distribution deal with Universal) and may have been included in whatever lump sum payment Jay possibly made to Prince. We'll see I guess.

[Edited 9/9/15 3:23am]

redflag said:

I think his relationship with WB is fine, but I think Prince also understands they are only interested in his legacy releases.

.

Yep. WB clearly paid for promotions supporting PR30 last year - all those online interviews w/former insiders (e.g. Susan Rogers) and retro-nostalgic Buzzfeed pieces don't pay for themselves or spring up out of nowhere.

.

[Edited 9/9/15 4:14am]

lezama said:

SquirrelMeat said:

lezama said:

This part doesn't make any sense. Why would he care about how much it sells? Thats for the record companies to recoupe. When he does up front deals he considers himself already paid, which is why he doesn't mind moving on from them as quickly as he does.

What record company? There isn't one. Beyond an initial payment for exclusivity, artists are paid royalties per play. When Prince discovers he's getting a few cents for plays, inside a captive subscription base he wont like it. What would you rather have? 0.2c x 100 plays (Tidal), or 0.1c x 10,000 plays (youtube)? If you are paid per click, you have to go as wide as you can.

This is exclusive to Tidal only for a certain period when it then proceed to having a traditional release. Or so that's what I've understood thusfar: http://musique.fnac.com/a...e-CD-album

But beyond that I don't think there's much money in streaming for him to be had regardless of whether its youtube or tidal. The handful of artists that make decent money on streaming have milenials as their primary audience. Prince's audience is primarily used to albums and hasnt quite caught hold of the whole streaming concept.