I think there would be very few people on this forum that aren't aware of that quote.

Also, you've framed it in your obvious favour. He could have said is as a point of resignation - perhaps he knew that if he wasn't willing to commit to a will, then no doubt people would capitalise off of his archive, like other artists that had passed before him.

He knew there was too much in the Vault to be released in his lifetime.
He'd known that since WB refused the 3-album package that was reduced to SOTT.
He'd known that since WB refused to just release a whole bunch of CDs and let people pick among them at the wrecka stow.

But he didn't destroy them.

I believe he knew his legacy was in releasing the Vault music as "new".

laytonian said:

Sorta having that conversation over here: https://prince.org/msg/7/464460

At this point, who cares! He's gone, the vault is and will be released in its entirety continously and most of us will be dead long before its all released!!! So stop bitching about it!!!

laytonian said:

He knew there was too much in the Vault to be released in his lifetime.
He'd known that since WB refused the 3-album package that was reduced to SOTT.
He'd known that since WB refused to just release a whole bunch of CDs and let people pick among them at the wrecka stow.

But he didn't destroy them.

I believe he knew his legacy was in releasing the Vault music as "new".

I think if he destroyd them then WB would have sued him for millions becuase they own it, right?

JorisE73 said:

laytonian said:

He knew there was too much in the Vault to be released in his lifetime.
He'd known that since WB refused the 3-album package that was reduced to SOTT.
He'd known that since WB refused to just release a whole bunch of CDs and let people pick among them at the wrecka stow.

But he didn't destroy them.

I believe he knew his legacy was in releasing the Vault music as "new".

I think if he destroyd them then WB would have sued him for millions becuase they own it, right?

Technically they don't "own" it, neither the masters let alone the physical tapes the music was recorded on. That much we know for a fact.

If what love2thenine's says is true, WB owns an unlimited exclusive licence to distribute the material.

But WB could not force Prince to release it neither can they force the Estate. So I doubt they could have sued Prince (or that they could sue the Estate) for a loss of profit, since all he had to do was what he did: sit on the material, and the Estate could also choose to do this if they so wished. I mean they could try, and possibly win, but technically the music does not belong to them.

databank said:

JorisE73 said:

I think if he destroyd them then WB would have sued him for millions becuase they own it, right?

Technically they don't "own" it, neither the masters let alone the physical tapes the music was recorded on. That much we know for a fact.

If what love2thenine's says is true, WB owns an unlimited exclusive licence to distribute the material.

But WB could not force Prince to release it neither can they force the Estate. So I doubt they could have sued Prince (or that they could sue the Estate) for a loss of profit, since all he had to do was what he did: sit on the material, and the Estate could also choose to do this if they so wished. I mean they could try, and possibly win, but technically the music does not belong to them.

Ah ok, thanks for clearing that up. I'm not well versed in these rights things.

databank said:

JorisE73 said:

I think if he destroyd them then WB would have sued him for millions becuase they own it, right?

Technically they don't "own" it, neither the masters let alone the physical tapes the music was recorded on. That much we know for a fact.

If what love2thenine's says is true, WB owns an unlimited exclusive licence to distribute the material.

But WB could not force Prince to release it neither can they force the Estate. So I doubt they could have sued Prince (or that they could sue the Estate) for a loss of profit, since all he had to do was what he did: sit on the material, and the Estate could also choose to do this if they so wished. I mean they could try, and possibly win, but technically the music does not belong to them.

Update ! From what i heard recently from a contact.....WB/SONY would have recently reached an agreement finally on the sharing of future releases for the next few years, it seems good news for fans so confirmed? of course this info is unofficial and there are no details .... we'll see the schedule of releases planned for 2021.... in the spring of next year we should know more I guess?