He is still making his money. Alliance Entertainment and Super D are the number biggest music one stops. He distributes his cds to them and they pay him $8 per cd. They sell it to stores for about $12.50 per cd minus their discount structure. Stores then sell it for $13-$17. Bigger chains like Target and Best Buy usually buy directly from Prince but they also do buy from Alliance and he still gets that $8 per cd. They have no middle man so they can sell it cheaper at $9.99 or whatever. He has a no return clause though so many stores are careful now with how much they buy. It is an interesting strategy. I am curious to see how many we have to buy at wholesale. Most likely 30. The fans are more passionate and would probably do a better job at selling these than the stores so it is an intersting experiment.

[Edited 1/26/16 22:09pm]

trax said:

trax said:

He is still making his money. Alliance Entertainment and Super D are the number biggest music one stops. He distributes his cds to them and they pay him $8 per cd. They sell it to stores for about $12.50 per cd minus their discount structure.

. The fans are more passionate and would probably do a better job at selling these than the stores so it is an intersting experiment.

[Edited 1/26/16 22:09pm]s

So you are saying the cd is actually in the stores right now?

Simply a new way for P. himself to show us again how complicated is to be a P. fan today.

I appreciate the thought.

Nevertheless. The nett price of this cd will be around $50 with shipping and added taxes/handling.

That's only doable if it will be the only way to get this.

I would be disappointed to shell out that kind of money to find it in the local Europian bargain bins 3 weeks later.

Local / regional cd distributions would be more fitting. Bellmark?

Or at least clarity (yes I know....)

[Edited 1/27/16 1:06am]

Pentacle said:

trax said:

He is still making his money. Alliance Entertainment and Super D are the number biggest music one stops. He distributes his cds to them and they pay him $8 per cd. They sell it to stores for about $12.50 per cd minus their discount structure.

. The fans are more passionate and would probably do a better job at selling these than the stores so it is an intersting experiment.

[Edited 1/26/16 22:09pm]s

So you are saying the cd is actually in the stores right now?

It is in one retail store (physically), and online orders are being taken through at least one online channel:

http://prince.org/msg/7/4...?&pg=4

langebleu said:

Pentacle said:

So you are saying the cd is actually in the stores right now?

It is in one retail store (physically), and online orders are being taken through at least one online channel:

http://prince.org/msg/7/4...?&pg=4

Aha, interesting.

Trax' post is like a business model Prince COULD follow but does not at the moment.

trickster said:

This is the distribution he deserves though. I'm not pressed over it. Hell I just bought Phase One last week. With Prince the smart way to buy, is to wait out all the silly shit and get your collectables at a discount. No way in hell I'm paying more than $5 for this shit.

laurarichardson said:

trickster said:

This is a joke ... Now imagin prince would Release the remasters He would sell around 10k copies just because he is unable to do professional buisness .... [Edited 1/26/16 22:09pm]

---- He is not on a major label it is not that easy for artist to get CDs into stores or get their records on the radio. For Phrase 2 it appears that WB are not involed so he is going it on his own. Be glad he is putting it on cd since the market for CDs is vanishing.

you are wrong! you dont need a major at all. the company i worked for at that time, did rnrla vinyl and single CD in europe because i called my boss and he called jamie lewis and ask for distributing the record - that was it. 4 weeks later the record was nearly everywhere and is still on stock and people can still order it. thats what distribution companies are doin - make the records available in stores and elsewhere.

there are more than a couple of independent distribution companies witch could do the job worldwide. but you must be able to organise professional buisness as a label and contact such companies - prince isnt able or willing to do it - or asked for to much money upfront - i dont know - but i am sure thats the real reson why WB or others are not on board and nothing else.

at the moment he gave the CD to ONE STORE - THIS IS A JOKE and absolut not necessary if you have a name like prince - he is not the typical independent artist because he is known everywhere ...

i still dont get him at this point. he could had have a network of partners worldwide for years to do thist job - he still has a big name, always new music and so on... even i could do it better

trickster said:

MIRvmn said:

benjaminira said:

I may be wrong. But I've seen a lot of posts on Facebook through various groups offering to sell the "hitnrun (phase 2)" through mutual fans? I think it's kind of brilliant, but how is he making money off this? Isn't it just a way of bootlegging his own stuff? How does he decide who should sell for him? I'm confused? Fan have been doing it for years! [Edited 1/26/16 21:51pm]

it's not a new way. it's like this because no one wanted to distribute PHASE 2 in a major way due to the disasterous sales of PHASE 1.

I believe this "new way" is known as the Burned All My Bridges Method.

laurarichardson said:

MIRvmn said:

His next album will probably only be a digital release after this mess

-/- All releases will be digital soon.

No,they won't

Genesia said:

iZsaZsa said:

Genesia said:

I believe this "new way" is known as the Burned All My Bridges Method.

Rebels are known for burning bridges.

That said, the latest idea is a dead end.

i got copies of phase 2 and back in time at the electric fetus in minneapolis. loved it. fast, simple and hey it worked

thedoorkeeper said:

Genesia said:

I believe this "new way" is known as the Burned All My Bridges Method.

Yup. The "My cd is shite and no one will touch my greedy pouty ass" method. Maybe it'll catch on.

This is unprecedented!!! To let only his loyal fan handle his mAsTeRpIeCeS.....

http://prince.org/msg/7/4...?&pg=4

is NOT having trouble with distribution! He's just thinking of new ways of distributing by adding his fans this time that care. Not the ones that spread negative lies(like U).