Soon after Prince passed, I read somewhere that WB had some insanely high life insurance policy on Prince. But, now I can't find or confirm this. Does anybody have a link?

If true, it just adds to the suspicions.

Personally, I would expect that with so much money on the line, WB, or Prince's lawyers, SOMEBODY would have insisted on there being a will to avoid the situation we have.

Currently, I'm inclined to believe that someone close to Prince thought they were getting him hydrocodone off the street or internet and had no idea that it was actually fentanyl. Perhaps the same someone who scheduled the opioid expert from California. But I cannot and will not rule out foul play, and the most likely suspect in that case would be WB. As stated above they have the most to gain. It'll be a lot easier (and cheaper) to pay off the estate for control than to get it from Prince.



Also. No way did Prince not have a will. No. Fcking. Way!!

djThunderfunk said:

NinaB said:

NinaB said:

nursev said:

NinaB said:

Btw I like Brother Rich's show (that Griff is interviewed on once a wk) I've been checking 4 Rich since his blogtalkradio days.

My first listen to his show

Red & Blue Pill are my fave guests

Oh dear...all this "he was killed" stuff again.

Not one news story from a reputable news source has painted Prince as a "ole drug addict rock star".

His family and close friends don't want to give more details about the nature of his passing, no doubt out of respect for Prince being such a private person, plus Minnesotan law dictates that full autopsy details do not need to be disclosed.

The full story will come out at some point (someone will break ranks and talk), but I doubt that the crux of it will be any different from what he know - Prince was in extreme pain much of the time, and took painkillers to alleviate this. As much as he lived for creating and performing, I'd hate to think of him getting older and being in even more pain.

nursev said:

WB has the most to gain from Prince's death. After bills, taxes and God knows what else to pay his family will get money but it wont be enough for them and they will sell his catalog back to WB. As far as PP being a museum only time will tell if that venture will work financially. MN is a cold state and its right in the middle of the country. After about two years and all this fades who will still be flying there for tours?

To me its a strange death, the facts have to come out at some point and I hope the truth, but until then ....Follow the money ....Follow the money

Please note that people kill people all over the world for less than £300,000,000

On 31 August 1992, Prince signed a new recording contract with Warner Bros. Records worth a potential $100 million. Which was more than several pop mega-deals struck earlier: Madonna's contract with Warners and Michael Jackson's pact with Sony Music, both estimated at $60 million each. The deal was made public on 4 September 1992.

The specifics

Advances for future releases

Prince's new contract was an extension of his previous contract. The reconfiguration amounted to a $10 million advance per record — twice that of Jackson's and Madonna's $5 million per album — plus a royalty rate of approximately 20 percent (some sources claim 25 percent) — three times his previous percentage.

However, Prince would only get this $10 million advance if the previous album has sold at least 5 million copies, i.e. it is an advance on sales, basically an interest-free loan, which would have to be paid back to the record label if sales were low — actually, deducted from royalties on older albums. An important clause, because while Prince's 13 albums had sold nearly 53 million, an average of 4.1 million each, a large chunk of that is due to 1984's Purple Rain, his bestseller at 14.7 million. As a matter of fact, only three of his albums had sold more than 5 million copies, though one of those was his latest album, Diamonds & Pearls.

This large advance was regarded as an attempt by Warner Bros. to motivate Prince to invest the same effort into future releases as he'd done for Diamonds & Pearls: releasing albums less frequently and promoting them heavily via singles, videos and extensive touring. Prince's sales had been inconsistent, especially in the United States; whereas Madonna had never sold fewer than 5 million copies of any recording, Prince's Lovesexy in 1988 sold less than 1.7 million.

Paisley Park Records

A further $20 million was used to make Paisley Park Records a joint venture with Warner Bros., which would force Prince to become more involved in the running of the label. Whereas previously Paisley Park Records would simply supply the master recordings to Warners who would then manufacture, distribute and promote the releases, now the label would decide on what to invest in videos and promotional efforts. Warners and Prince would share investments and profits. Some reports also mention an additional joint venture record label, possibly for singles (tentative name: Love).

Publishing

The final $20 million involved another advance, this time by Warner/Chappel music publishers. Part of which was a new three-year agreement between Prince's music publishing company, Controversy Music, and Warner/Chappel Music for the handling of his copyrights worldwide. Another agreement would involve Prince and Warners actively looking for new talent. This was cited as the reason why Warner Bros. Records named him a vice president of artists and repertoire and gave him an office in its L.A. headquarters. However, it is assumed that Prince only wanted this position in order to acquire Time Warner stock options.

No signing fee

Noteworthy is that Prince did not receive a signing fee, unlike Michael Jackson and Madonna.

The reporting

Prince's own entourage seemed pleased with the deal:

"We are extremely satisfied with the deal," said Gilbert Davison, president of Prince's Paisley Park Enterprises. "Prince has been with Warners since 1978. It's nice to know that they still see him as such a valuable asset."

Davison negotiated the pact with Paisley Park Vice President Jill Wills and Los Angeles entertainment attorney Gary Stiffelman. Representatives for Prince and Warner declined to discuss details of the contract, which has been in the works for more than a year.

However, the size of the deal was almost immediately disputed:

Not only were key officers at Warner Bros. surprised when Prince's publicists issued a press release Thursday announcing the pact, but they were "dismayed" — in the words of one Warner official — by the claim that it was the biggest deal in record industry history.

Without denying the Prince deal is one of the "four or five biggest" in the record industry, insiders claim the total figure is based largely on projected revenue — not guaranteed income.

Prince's lawyers were confident:

Gary Stiffelman, an entertainment attorney at the Los Angeles firm Ziffren, Brittenham and Branca, declined to discuss details of the contract, but dismissed allegations of self-promotion. Stiffelman negotiated the contract for Prince along with Gilbert Davison, president of Paisley Park Enterprises, Prince's Minneapolis record company.

Fred Goodman claims that Prince's lawyers received a phone call from Warner Bros.:

A source involved in the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, says that even Warners executives telephoned Prince's lawyers after the agreement was announced to ask how the contract could be worth so much. One published report put the actual value of the deal closer to $30 million, while others have speculated that the most he can earn is $10 million per album.

Prince's lawyer points out a difference between Prince and other artists:

Mr. Stiffleman also views Prince as unusually prolific. In the time between Michael Jackson's 1987 release of Bad and last year's Dangerous, for example, Prince released four albums. "Together, they sold as well as Bad, and I'd wager they were more profitable," says Mr. Stiffleman.

Jon Bream managed to get an on the record response from a Warner Bros. VP:

"It looks like we're giving him the farm. It's a generous deal, but it's a realistic deal as well," said Bob Merlis, Warner Bros. vice president of publicity. "If his sales continue the way they have for Diamonds and Pearls (his current album, which has sold 5.8 million copies), we're all going to make money from the deal. If they go up appreciably, obviously he'll make a lot more money." Merlis would not confirm the amount of the contract, but Prince's managers released some details in a news release Thursday.

Bream also compares sales figures:

Since 1983, Madonna has made eight albums with combined worldwide sales of 76 million, or an average of 9.5 million each. Her bestseller is 1986's True Blue, with 17 million. Since 1979, the prolific Prince has released an album a year for Warner Bros. These 13 albums have sold nearly 53 million, or an average of 4.1 million each; his bestseller is 1984's Purple Rain, 14.7 million. Two of Jackson's four solo albums, Thriller and Bad, have combined sales of 73 million.

Sources

• "Prince's Contract Tiff I...f Numbers" by Richard Harrington in The Washington Post on 28 October 1994

• "Just How Princely Is Prince's Deal?" by Chuck Philips in the Los Angeles Times on 5 September 1992

• "Prince's behind-scenes bankability" by Jon Bream in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on 5 September 1992

• "A Man of Many Talents (a...Million?)" by Fred Goodman in the New York Times on 1 November 1992

• "A King's Ransom for Prin...th Warner" by Chuck Philips in the Los Angeles Times on 4 September 1992

• "Prince's new record deal" by Jon Bream in Entertainment Weekly on 18 September 1992

http://musicfans.stackexchange.com/questions/88/what-were-the-specifics-of-princes-100-million-contract-with-warner-bros-re

This was a bitter battle for FREEDOM! poor Prince

I believe that whatever happens in the dark must come out in the light!!!! Far too much secrecy is going on but people will slowly start to talk and the truth will come out. When you think about what we know of him all these years, that masters quote in the heading and how the world operates it's all just so terribly sad and tragic

I respect Professor Griff and some one gave Red & Blue Pill a shout out they are smart as well.

Honestly I do not know what to believe anymore. I do know this, some shit is not right and felt it early on and still, over 4 months I still feel it more than ever. I do hope what happened in the dark comes to light, not matter what it is. We just need the truth. We are talking about Prince now, I would have never ever in my life thought this shit would go down with Prince. Not him!!!

This deal marks a new era, as the ability to terminate master recording copyright after 35 years was granted in the Copyright Revision Act of 1976 and became effective in 1978, the year that Prince's debut album came out.

As 2013 loomed, record label executives and artists managers said that they were unsure how copyright terminations and ownership reversions would play out, as they expected a precedent-setting court case to decide whether the "work-for-hire" clause in standard recording contracts could successfully be challenged by artists. Works created under work-for-hire contracts are not eligible for copyright reversion. But privately, some label executives have also said that in some instances the wiser course might be to negotiate the reversions and retain control of issuing artists' catalog eligible for copyright terminations.

CONCERT REVIEW: Prince Ou...rathon Set

In cutting what appears to be a landmark deal, Prince has chosen to remain with the label that was the subject of his ire back in the 1990s, avoiding a risky and costly legal battle, and still regains ownership of his catalog.

Financial terms and length of the licensing deal were not disclosed, nor does the announcement clarify whether the artist is gaining ownership of his catalog all at once or, more likely, as each album becomes eligible for copyright termination.

The Warner Music Group declined to provide further comment on the details of the deal.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/prince-returns-warner-bros-records-697581

They had his children ....he never got them back poor Prince

Jeff Jampol was quoted in a recent article at Billboard Magazine:

“It was important to work things out withPrince and have him come back to Warner Bros.,” says label chairman/CEO Cameron Strang, speaking with Billboard at the company’s Burbank headquarters on the day after the artist’s death — the same offices Prince walked through in 1977 as a 19-year-old new signing. Strang had inked the artist to a new deal in 2014, 18 years after he had left Warner Bros. after a bitter dispute over ownership of his music. “Prince had a real ­connection with a lot of people here,” says Strang.

That sense of closure is misleadingly tidy: For an astute artist so outspoken about his rights to the ownership of his work and likeness, Prince apparently left his business affairs in considerable disarray — and ­according to his sister Tyka Nelson, even without a will. Thus, it could be months or even years before a ­coherent strategy emerges for the ­management of Prince’s estate and his substantial intellectual-property assets, the recorded-music elements of which are valued in the range of $100 million, according to sources.

Prince’s supporting cast had been a ­revolving door for decades; he didn’t have a longtime, trusted confidant like attorney John Branca was for Michael Jackson. His attorney at the time of his death was Rhonda Trotter from the Los Angeles law firm Kaye Scholer, who had executed the 2014 Warner Bros. deal along with former Barack Obama insider Van Jones. His longest standing, although sporadic, recent associate was entertainment lawyer L. Londell McMillan, who ­reportedly traveled to Minneapolis after Prince’s death to help handle the chaos around the estate. (Neither Trotter nor McMillan would ­comment for this story.)

Apart from the beneficiaries, the entity with the most at stake in these affairs is Warner Music Group (WMG), which released the artist’s music for the first 18 years of his career — and also released two Prince albums in 2014 — and could control much of his legendary vast archive of unreleased material, which is said to include hundreds if not more than 1,000 songs.

PrinceArmy - keep following the money ...follow the money

While he famously eviscerated the company over ownership issues in the years leading up to his departure, the ­announcement of the 2014 deal promised “the release of long-awaited, ­previously unheard material, while giving the ­artist ­ownership of the master recordings of his classic, global hits,” as well as a 30th-­anniversary deluxe edition ofPurple Rain. However, nothing has materialized thus far from the agreement beyond the two 2014 albums, Prince’s Art Official Age (which to date has scanned nearly 154,000 units) and Prince & 3rdeyegirl’s Plectrumelectrum (60,000 units). Strang tellsBillboard that no further releases under the deal are scheduled.

Sources tell Billboard that Prince’s ­ownership of his Warner Bros. catalog is for the United States only; WMG still owns and ­controls it for the rest of the world. In exchange for Prince’s ownership of his master recordings, sources say WMG received a long-term licensing and distribution deal — possibly for the life of the copyright, i.e., 75 years after the author’s death. For its part, WMG gave Prince a huge bump in royalties for his records — Billboard ­estimates that the artist received a blended rate of 37 percent across all formats and territories.

Based on the deal’s press release, it seems likely that Prince at least verbally agreed to issue upgraded versions of his Warner Bros.-era albums and mine his vault for previously unreleased material. When asked about the Purple Rain reissue, Strang toldBillboard, “I definitely discussed it with Prince. At times he toyed with doing something with it and maybe worked on it, but he considered Purple Rain a masterpiece, and I think he liked it the way it was.”

http://wemanagelegends.com/will-princes-estate-and-icon-status-grow-after-his-death-2/

Money dont matter tonight.....RIP Prince

Mr. Nelson, Mr. Nelson, can you hear my voice?
Sir, we know you're a little bit groggy
And you're probably going to find it hard to speak
But don't try to talk or process too much now
We just want to let you know that the medication you were given
Has put you in a suspended animation for quite some time
Well, in fact, about 45 years
But where you are now
Is a place that does not require time
That being said, you are completely safe
And we are here to help you

Read more: Prince - Clouds Lyrics | MetroLyrics

ART OFFICIAL CAGE"

Any person or object whatsoever
That requires your attention
Is something that has veered from its path
And preordained destiny of total enlightenment

I never wanted a typical life
Scripted role, huh a trophy wife
All I ever wanted, to be left alone
See my bed's made up at night
'Cause in my dreams I roam
Just trying to find, trying to find
My way back, back home

So many reasons why
There's so many reasons why
I don't belong here
But now that I am I
Without fear I am
Gonna conquer with no fear
Until I find my way back home
Until I find my way back home
(Find my way back home)

Most people in this world (Most people in this world)are born dead
But I was born alive
(I was born with this dream)
With a dream outside my head (outside my head)
That I could find my way back home
My, my, way way back home

Is this the way? (Is this the way?)

(Power to the ones)
Power to the ones who could raise a child like me
The path was set
But if you look the truth will set us free
I've heard about those happy endings
But it's still a mystery
Lemme tell you about me
I'm happiest when I can see
My way back home
Can you see
My way back, my way back home

Read more: Prince - Way Back Home Ly...etroLyrics

nursev said:

LuxLove said:

The thought of the vault being sold to them makes me sick to my stomach. I swear I will not pay for anything if they fuck this up!

Also nothing will ever convince me that this man who fought so hard for control of his creations would leave no instructions following his death. The fact he wanted to turn PP into a museum shows he was thinking about his legacy.

agreed....its all so suspicious that its actually starting to add up to some foul play here. I believe he was sick, but had no thoughts on dying soon hence the book, the new piano and the plans for PP. Somebody took him out.

so like i mentioned awhile ago ..does WB have a lot to gain by his death?

nursev said:

Dreamer2 said:

nursev said:

WB has the most to gain from Prince's death. After bills, taxes and God knows what else to pay his family will get money but it wont be enough for them and they will sell his catalog back to WB. As far as PP being a museum only time will tell if that venture will work financially. MN is a cold state and its right in the middle of the country. After about two years and all this fades who will still be flying there for tours?

To me its a strange death, the facts have to come out at some point and I hope the truth, but until then ....Follow the money ....Follow the money

Please note that people kill people all over the world for less than £300,000,000

All true

Starrdust505 said:

I believe that whatever happens in the dark must come out in the light!!!! Far too much secrecy is going on but people will slowly start to talk and the truth will come out. When you think about what we know of him all these years, that masters quote in the heading and how the world operates it's all just so terribly sad and tragic

I believe it will eventually come out too

AnnaStesia10 said:

I respect Professor Griff and some one gave Red & Blue Pill a shout out they are smart as well.

Honestly I do not know what to believe anymore. I do know this, some shit is not right and felt it early on and still, over 4 months I still feel it more than ever. I do hope what happened in the dark comes to light, not matter what it is. We just need the truth. We are talking about Prince now, I would have never ever in my life thought this shit would go down with Prince. Not him!!!

I never dreamed this would be how Prince's story would end...just so terribly sad and all the unknowns make it just unbearable

Dreamer2 said:

This deal marks a new era, as the ability to terminate master recording copyright after 35 years was granted in the Copyright Revision Act of 1976 and became effective in 1978, the year that Prince's debut album came out.

As 2013 loomed, record label executives and artists managers said that they were unsure how copyright terminations and ownership reversions would play out, as they expected a precedent-setting court case to decide whether the "work-for-hire" clause in standard recording contracts could successfully be challenged by artists. Works created under work-for-hire contracts are not eligible for copyright reversion. But privately, some label executives have also said that in some instances the wiser course might be to negotiate the reversions and retain control of issuing artists' catalog eligible for copyright terminations.

CONCERT REVIEW: Prince Ou...rathon Set

In cutting what appears to be a landmark deal, Prince has chosen to remain with the label that was the subject of his ire back in the 1990s, avoiding a risky and costly legal battle, and still regains ownership of his catalog.

Financial terms and length of the licensing deal were not disclosed, nor does the announcement clarify whether the artist is gaining ownership of his catalog all at once or, more likely, as each album becomes eligible for copyright termination.

The Warner Music Group declined to provide further comment on the details of the deal.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/prince-returns-warner-bros-records-697581

They had his children ....he never got them back poor Prince

Sad

Dreamer2 said:

While he famously eviscerated the company over ownership issues in the years leading up to his departure, the ­announcement of the 2014 deal promised “the release of long-awaited, ­previously unheard material, while giving the ­artist ­ownership of the master recordings of his classic, global hits,” as well as a 30th-­anniversary deluxe edition ofPurple Rain. However, nothing has materialized thus far from the agreement beyond the two 2014 albums, Prince’s Art Official Age (which to date has scanned nearly 154,000 units) and Prince & 3rdeyegirl’s Plectrumelectrum (60,000 units). Strang tellsBillboard that no further releases under the deal are scheduled.

Sources tell Billboard that Prince’s ­ownership of his Warner Bros. catalog is for the United States only; WMG still owns and ­controls it for the rest of the world. In exchange for Prince’s ownership of his master recordings, sources say WMG received a long-term licensing and distribution deal — possibly for the life of the copyright, i.e., 75 years after the author’s death. For its part, WMG gave Prince a huge bump in royalties for his records — Billboard ­estimates that the artist received a blended rate of 37 percent across all formats and territories.

Based on the deal’s press release, it seems likely that Prince at least verbally agreed to issue upgraded versions of his Warner Bros.-era albums and mine his vault for previously unreleased material. When asked about the Purple Rain reissue, Strang toldBillboard, “I definitely discussed it with Prince. At times he toyed with doing something with it and maybe worked on it, but he considered Purple Rain a masterpiece, and I think he liked it the way it was.”

http://wemanagelegends.com/will-princes-estate-and-icon-status-grow-after-his-death-2/

Money dont matter tonight.....RIP Prince

wow the deal was just for the U.S. thats just not even fair/right.

luvsexy4all said:

nursev said:

agreed....its all so suspicious that its actually starting to add up to some foul play here. I believe he was sick, but had no thoughts on dying soon hence the book, the new piano and the plans for PP. Somebody took him out.

so like i mentioned awhile ago ..does WB have a lot to gain by his death?

Im still not sure he ever got his masters back? did he? or was the time coming up for him to get them back?

PurpleDiamonds1 said:

nursev said:

agreed....its all so suspicious that its actually starting to add up to some foul play here. I believe he was sick, but had no thoughts on dying soon hence the book, the new piano and the plans for PP. Somebody took him out.

Agree with most of this....not sure if I believe he was sick...just opinion The drs son seems very strange ...he shows up with a bag of ???

Nah I think he did have suboxone but just got caught in a tragic situation.

nursev said:

nursev said:

luvsexy4all said:

so like i mentioned awhile ago ..does WB have a lot to gain by his death?

Im still not sure he ever got his masters back? did he? or was the time coming up for him to get them back?

interesting

NinaB said:

nursev said:

Nina u hit the nail on the head cuz it is cruel to continue to lie to grieving fans. All for what? Its about money...lets string these fans along to sell tickets and whatever else we wanna put out there...sad. Fans can see Prince was sick the pics dont lie

I mean if you're gonna say something, then just say it! Or say nothing! Please! Some sort of misguided loyalty 2 his privacy is in fact making things worse...dropping hints only leads 2 more speculation. And then there's always been the types who wanna let u kno their close 2 him & act all cliquey & mysterious & smug & shit.

Yes! Them "trying" to be mysterious just makes them look stupid. You know the fans want the truth. We need some type of closure. Why are you playing games?

I did not realize that the deal was for THE U.S. ONLY! )this is purely my own opinion so do not take it as fact but In my heart and every being in my body I say that WB has a lot to gain by him being gone but the flip side of the coin is could there be some hostility and such from the other labels he worked with that might seek revenge? If you read below you will see that Prince could have created a lot of enemies among many of the major record labels because he refused to be controled and told what he can and can't do/who he can and cannot work with and so on when Prince signed various one off deals with many of WB's rivals. such as....

https://www.theguardian.c...isley-park states....

"The NPG years (including EMI, Arista, Columbia, Universal and back to Warner again) (1995-2014)

The past two decades have been somewhat promiscuous for Prince in terms of his dealings with record labels, and this is where the chronology gets a little topsy-turvy. He set up NPG Records (the NPG standing for New Power Generation) to replace the now defunct Paisley Park Records. The Gold Experience (1995) came out on NPG/Warner, but also lived on when Prince finally broke with Warner and signed a series of one-off deals with most of Warner's major label rivals. There was the tellingly titled Emancipation (with EMI) in 1996, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (with Arista) in 1996, The Rainbow Children (with Redline Entertainment, owned by Best Buy) in 1999, NEWS (with MP Media) in 2003, Musicology (with Columbia) in 2004, 3121 (with Universal) in 2006, Planet Earth (with Columbia again, more of which below) in 2007 and then both Art Official Age and Plectrum Electrum (reuniting him with Warner) in 2014."

Sony sued him for working with Judith Hill in 2015 as well... http://www.axs.com/news/p...hill-46536

"Flamboyant singer, songwriter Prince is being sued by Sony Music and music producer Jolene Cherry for allegedly "poaching" singer Judith Hill, a former contestant on TV's "The Voice". Cherry, credited with discovering Lady Gaga, claims that Hill was signed to an exclusive recording contract, and is now suing Prince for regular damages, punitive damages and underhandedness, according to a March 28 report from Yahoo! News.The lawsuit comes after it was discovered that the diminutive Prince collaborated with Hill on the album "Back In Time". Produced by Prince, the album was made available for free download on YouTube" ...."Reportedly, Cherry and Sony caught wind of the Prince/Hill collaboration a few months back and warned Hill to cease and desist her activities with the 56-year-old Prince. The lawsuit followed Monday's release of the free download of "Back in Time" which contains 11 songs"...

All in all and this is just me reading the fine print and forming my own conclusions, the only conclusion that I can form LOGICALLY is that his death is just too fishy for us to believe what we are told in media. It pays for fans to always second guess what the media says and do their own research, because an artist's fans may be the only ones that can move mountains and make sure that person's death is not invain. Prince moved heaven and earth for his fans and those he loved. It is sad to even fathom that possibly some person or persons closest to him might betray him. That is the part that I have a hard time wrapping my head around.

[Edited 8/26/16 8:20am]

So it looks like Warners and Sony are competing against each other for Prince's catalogue. I just read that on Google News. Also, the Estate is looking toward a holiday season release of yet another greatest hits-type album with two never-released songs included. Then, starting in 2017, the Estate will address the contents of the Vault. Prince withdrew from ASCAP a while back, so the Estate has to basically set up a global music distribution arrangement.

I hope all rights to video and audio are sold by the Estate to Warner Bros. They are the only company I trust to properly release everything.