This is not a Prince is over and done thread... But a question I hope gets some good general input, and discussion...

After Lotusflow3r/MPLSOUND which was sold exclusively at TARGET in the U.S. It seems after that Prince had some "speculated" trouble finding a deal with releasing or distributing his upcoming albums. 20Ten was released through magazine and newspaper outlets throughout Europe including Rolling Stone magazine in Germany, Courrier International in France, the Daily Mirror and Record in the U.K. and Ireland, as well as the Het Niewsblad in Belgium, with no official 20Ten release in the U.S. and other countries...

It seems that was a sign of Prince finding it hard to get a major disribution deal in the U.S. and as a result he opted to do an independent distrubition making deals with various news outlets in Europe.

As 20Ten and 2010 passed... It would be four years, the longest Prince has gone without releasing an album, since the eventual release of AOA and Plectrum Electrum in 2014.

During 2010 - 2014 he toured, recorded music as usual, but what transpired to the point that Prince could not get a distributed release during that period. We all know a 3EG album was rumoured for release maybe as early as late 2012. We know that he their was a supposed signing with KOBALT to deliever new music but nothing fell through...

On the George Lopez show in 2011 he stated he was taking a "break" from recording or working on any new projects...

In the summer of 2014 we read from various news outlets that Prince has re-signed with WB with the biggest speculation and rumor of him resigining to the company that he publically fueded with was to own the rights of his masters, in exchange for another "speculated" re release/re-issue of Purple Rain for it's 30th Anniversary.

A few months later no Purple Rain reissue is released, but two Prince albums (AOA and Plectrum Electrum) instead.

As a promotion push for the AOA album was overall minimal at best, with many indictations that WB tried it's harderest to promote the album booking an apperance of Prince on SNL, many billboards, several previews on YouTube of the clip as well as "official" videos for AnotherLove and Marz basically rehashed from the SNL performances... AOA commercially showed a very minimally average commercial showing with over 200,000 copies sold world wide. Plectrum on the other hand was a commercial flop, and after 4 long years of no new album officially released, a lot of the visibility with the lack of strong social media, streaming following, Plectrum became his one of his lowest selling albums behind N.E.W.S and HitnRun: Phase 1, all selling under a dismal 50,000 copies.

... With the high speculation of Prince having trouble getting a new album distributed untill 2014, and then releasing 2 WB albums, with one having a terrible commercial showing... Prince released HitnRun: Phase 1 on TIDAL then a phsyical release amongst NPG Records/ Roc Nation with another very low commercial showing, making it become his lowest selling CD ever.

Here comes the surprise release of PHASE 2 just days before Prince tweets that he gave it to WB a while ago and they are holding on to it, and we should pickket for it's release... He releases PHASE 2 to streaming, then a week later allows for digital purchase only at TIDAL.COM, iTUNES, AMAZON, etc...

I happen to have this feeling that between the Purple Rain remaster as Prince said in his tweets that was also sent to WB a while ago, that Prince made a deal with TIDAL to release more music faster, digitally, on a streaming site, so he can release what he wants when he wants. The details of the TIDAL deal are not 100% clear to us fans, but it appears that it is harder for Prince to distribute his music with major labels in a phsyical form... At least there has been much tension since it took him so long to get a release since 20Ten.

What will the future hold? I honestly feel he lost all commercial appeal, lower than probably any "legacy" act from the 60,s, 70s, and 80's who are still alive of course...

My question is... what will the future hold when it comes to releasing albums with major labels... It seems we are uncertain now while still waiting for the HitnRun Phase 2 physical release, and the uncertaintity with his resigining with WB saying he will only issue remasters with the "price is right" then why sign back with WB to get them back in the first place?

The fact he gave Phase 2 for WB to release and they wouldn't yet then releases it through TIDAL after stating WB was "holding on to it" Do you think we will ever see Prince release an album with a major label again? Or do you think the WB deal is pretty much dead for Prince not promising the remasters? Lastly do you think there is any clause in the contract that makes it ok for Prince to release an album through TIDAL even when we know he intended PHASE 2 to be a WB release as hinted from his tweets?

[Edited 12/29/15 13:28pm]

Considering that Prince is supposedly an "independent artist",he sure keeps running back to these major companies,doesn't he? He would never admit it,but he needs their help

Hope Prince retires soon , thats what you all seem to want with a smile and a laugh saying it. What will you all do if he retires , what can you bitch about? Oh yes you can still bitch about all his so called mistakes which you all would of not made. I will help the trolls say what they really want to happen. For Prince to be totally forgotten by the whole world they will love that. Prince to sell even lower numbers for his next few albums. Prince to reveal he wears a wig. Prince to say there is no vault and he burned it all. Prince to never get a label to release any future music. Sorry if i missed anything esle you would like.

SoulAlive said:

Considering that Prince is supposedly an "independent artist",he sure keeps running back to these major companies,doesn't he? He would never admit it,but he needs their help

Exactly that's why I'm confused...

He resigns to WB to get his masters back. No PR release, tweets there will be re-issues when the pie is cut fairly...

So now he signs a deal to get his remasters back but refuses to release remasters unless there is another deal to get his remasters which was the reason he resigned to WB...

Then there is the distribution... He will continue to seel virtually under 50,000 with these independent type streaming distributions... I remember there was a thread saying if HitnRun was promoted... All there was were posters, banners and an ad taken out on Times Square, to represent the whole "promotion" for that album, and in phsyical sales it was off the charts in the 3rd week I believe not even breaking 30,000 in the U.S.

So now Prince who is still signed to WB I assume, states that Phase 2 was given to WB but they haven't released it yet or want to release it phsyically yet, most likely because they will spend more money promoting it and the end result will be the same Prince wont promote, no social media presence, streaming only on tidal with the lowest amount of paid subcribers, will just be a waiste of money for WB. So instead Prince releases it without WB consent on TIDAL?

Remember Phase 1 was not released by WB for the phsyical release but a "semi independent" release by NPG Records and Roc Nation.

feeluupp said:

SoulAlive said:

Considering that Prince is supposedly an "independent artist",he sure keeps running back to these major companies,doesn't he? He would never admit it,but he needs their help

Exactly that's why I'm confused...

He resigns to WB to get his masters back. No PR release, tweets there will be re-issues when the pie is cut fairly...

So now he signs a deal to get his remasters back but refuses to release remasters unless there is another deal to get his remasters which was the reason he resigned to WB...

Then there is the distribution... He will continue to seel virtually under 50,000 with these independent type streaming distributions... I remember there was a thread saying if HitnRun was promoted... All there was were posters, banners and an ad taken out on Times Square, to represent the whole "promotion" for that album, and in phsyical sales it was off the charts in the 3rd week I believe not even breaking 30,000 in the U.S.

So now Prince who is still signed to WB I assume, states that Phase 2 was given to WB but they haven't released it yet or want to release it phsyically yet, most likely because they will spend more money promoting it and the end result will be the same Prince wont promote, no social media presence, streaming only on tidal with the lowest amount of paid subcribers, will just be a waiste of money for WB. So instead Prince releases it without WB consent on TIDAL?

Remember Phase 1 was not released by WB for the phsyical release but a "semi independent" release by NPG Records and Roc Nation.

It's a mess,isn't it? Everything seems so disorganized.

MIRvmn said:

I doubt that WB will release a new Prince album again

You can be sure he's one of the least favorite artists on Major Label Avenue.

When Taylor Swift is hailed as the "new Prince", you can see why. But don't worry about him, he'll release music and tour possibly until most orgers get old age security... and beyond.

He has expenses to keep things going, but it sounds like even some of his staunchest critics grudginly acknowledge that a couple of shows takes care of the bills -- with the royalty cheques and other revenues.

For someone who is by some accounts forever on the verge of bankruptcy and at war with the powers that be (for like, decades now), the man has amazing staying power.

[Edited 12/29/15 14:35pm]

MIRvmn said:

I doubt that WB will release a new Prince album again

I was thinking the same thing.Whatever type of deal Prince signed with them last year,it's probably over.

He wanted his masters back and got them. But according to the deal he has to release remastered albums through WB. Prince seems ok with that as long as he gets what he consideres a fair share.

As for new a album I suspect Prince has to give it to WB first, if they don't want it, Prince can do whatever he wants.

[Edited 12/29/15 14:43pm]

paulludvig said:

He wanted his masters back and got them. But according to the deal he has to release remastered albums through WB. Prince seems ok with that as long as he gets what he consideres a fair share.

As for new a album I suspect Prince has to give it to WB first, if they don't want it, Prince can do whatever he wants.

[Edited 12/29/15 14:43pm]

And I guess WB didn't want to release HitnRun Phase 2... Or they r planning a future physical release?

Who knows anything these days anyways with Princey.

paulludvig said:

He wanted his masters back and got them. But according to the deal he has to release remastered albums through WB. Prince seems ok with that as long as he gets what he consideres a fair share.

As for new a album I suspect Prince has to give it to WB first, if they don't want it, Prince can do whatever he wants.

[Edited 12/29/15 14:43pm]

That's definitely my impression, or we would be seeing lawsuits.

feeluupp said:

This is not a Prince is over and done thread... But a question I hope gets some good general input, and discussion...

After Lotusflow3r/MPLSOUND which was sold exclusively at TARGET in the U.S. It seems after that Prince had some "speculated" trouble finding a deal with releasing or distributing his upcoming albums. 20Ten was released through magazine and newspaper outlets throughout Europe including Rolling Stone magazine in Germany, Courrier International in France, the Daily Mirror and Record in the U.K. and Ireland, as well as the Het Niewsblad in Belgium, with no official 20Ten release in the U.S. and other countries...

It seems that was a sign of Prince finding it hard to get a major disribution deal in the U.S. and as a result he opted to do an independent distrubition making deals with various news outlets in Europe.

As 20Ten and 2010 passed... It would be four years, the longest Prince has gone without releasing an album, since the eventual release of AOA and Plectrum Electrum in 2014.

During 2010 - 2014 he toured, recorded music as usual, but what transpired to the point that Prince could not get a distributed release during that period. We all know a 3EG album was rumoured for release maybe as early as late 2012. We know that he their was a supposed signing with KOBALT to deliever new music but nothing fell through...

On the George Lopez show in 2011 he stated he was taking a "break" from recording or working on any new projects...

I'm thinking you're right on. Is there any major label left with which he hasn't already burned bridges?

breakdown2k14 said:

Very good read there .I didn't know Phase 2 is available on Amazon as a digital download

I haven't been able to find it on Amazon US yet.

Aerogram said:

paulludvig said:

He wanted his masters back and got them. But according to the deal he has to release remastered albums through WB. Prince seems ok with that as long as he gets what he consideres a fair share.

As for new a album I suspect Prince has to give it to WB first, if they don't want it, Prince can do whatever he wants.

[Edited 12/29/15 14:43pm]

That's definitely my impression, or we would be seeing lawsuits.

I agree. I believe that was in the deal as well... The strange thing is did he re sign with WB just to get his masters back and play the same money games... Ending up not releasing remasters, kind of kills the whole point of resigning for the masters to remaster.

what i dont get is ...if he's so gung ho about changing the industry to benefit the artist...why not specify all these deals so we know what the f is going on and dont speculate incorrectly???

I think we will defintely see new WB Prince albums, even though it doesn't appear he has a contract with them beyond reissues. No other major is going to pay Prince money so they can take an L for him. I think WB will throw Prince a bone at some point and let him unleash more crap pseudo-jazz and whatnot, so long as he turns over 80's outtakes first and produces an ironclad contract to tour the US with some familiar faces from the 80's (I doubt Kirky J will do).

Too bad we can't actually see the contract that he signed with Warners last year It would really clarify things.I wonder if bonus tracks (on the remasters) was a part of the deal?

funksterr said:

I think we will defintely see new WB Prince albums, even though it doesn't appear he has a contract with them beyond reissues. No other major is going to pay Prince money so they can take an L for him. I think WB will throw Prince a bone at some point and let him unleash more crap pseudo-jazz and whatnot, so long as he turns over 80's outtakes first and produces an ironclad contract to tour the US with some familiar faces from the 80's (I doubt Kirky J will do).

There's talk about him working with, or planning to work with, Morris Day again. Will that do? Having said that, I can't really see why WB would be bothered with former associates or band members.

[Edited 12/29/15 18:03pm]

paulludvig said:

funksterr said:

I think we will defintely see new WB Prince albums, even though it doesn't appear he has a contract with them beyond reissues. No other major is going to pay Prince money so they can take an L for him. I think WB will throw Prince a bone at some point and let him unleash more crap pseudo-jazz and whatnot, so long as he turns over 80's outtakes first and produces an ironclad contract to tour the US with some familiar faces from the 80's (I doubt Kirky J will do).

Ther's tak about himworking with, or planning to work with, Morris Day again. Will that do? Having said that, I can't really see why WB would be bothered with former associates or band members.

Maybe I read it wrong,but....in that Ebony interview,it seemed as if Prince was interested in working with Morris' son (but not Morris)

SoulAlive said:

paulludvig said:

Ther's talk about him working with, or planning to work with, Morris Day again. Will that do? Having said that, I can't really see why WB would be bothered with former associates or band members.

Maybe I read it wrong,but....in that Ebony interview,it seemed as if Prince was interested in working with Morris' son (but not Morris)

I read it like he wanted to work with both. But I could be wrong too

in that interview,Prince claims that he never heard the Condensate album.But when that album was released,I recall Jimmy Jam saying that Prince sent a message,telling them that he liked the album

SoulAlive said:

in that interview,Prince claims that he never heard the Condensate album.But when that album was released,I recall Jimmy Jam saying that Prince sent a message,telling them that he liked the album

He probably said that so he didn't have to have an opinion on it.

NorthC said:

As long as you like the record, who cares whether it sells twenty thousand or twenty million?

And that is one of the most sensible things ever said on the org. Unfortunately, most prince fans see how many a record has sold, then decide if it's good or bad. Frank Zappa fans they are not!

The word is out among major record labels regarding Prince's childish antics. How can anyone possibly do business with an man who don't honor the terms he signed/aggreed apon? Not to mention why bother releasing an album that's more than likely will flop? Prince's albums flop regularly now. Prince's fanbase has gotten smaller and smaller due to his constant attacking of them (stop and desist orders, and threats of lawsuits), and the quality of his music has dramaticly plummeted. Prince does the tidal streaming service now, because he don't have an choice. No one wants him. Again, Prince has no one to blame but himself. Damn shame.

[Edited 12/30/15 10:34am]

Aerogram said:

Scarfo said: