[Edited 6/9/25 20:54pm]

Regarding the resurrection of an NPG Club-styled online effort...

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That's great and all, but I think a lot of us fans want to PHYSICALLY OWN the music. Streaming is fine, but when it comes to my favorite bands, I don't want an M4A file in my iTunes that might disappear when the licensing rights expire... I want a shiny silver CD in a nice package sitting on my shelf.

GiggityGoo said:

Regarding the resurrection of an NPG Club-styled online effort...

.

That's great and all, but I think a lot of us fans want to PHYSICALLY OWN the music. Streaming is fine, but when it comes to my favorite bands, I don't want an M4A file in my iTunes that might disappear when the licensing rights expire... I want a shiny silver CD in a nice package sitting on my shelf.

I agree and they get that - that bit was covered by Charles and the marketing VP from Sony - they 'inherited' a mess from the various banks that had been managing The Estate and had to sort that out, sort out the Netflix restraints and are still discovering what is in the Vault. The next 2 years should be far better and aligned to what ultra, casual and new fans might want both in terms of music and the formats it comes on

The biggest cheer in the room came from when a wonderful Spanish lady asked about releasing 'Small Club'

What wasn't in the Q&A but something I asked Charles Spicer after the Q&A is that they are also planning to reissue asscoiated artists albums too - though whether this will be Expanded or Remastered wasn't mentioned.

mattosgood said:

I agree and they get that - that bit was covered by Charles and the marketing VP from Sony - they 'inherited' a mess from the various banks that had been managing The Estate and had to sort that out, sort out the Netflix restraints

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Which were only for video, so they could have easily released audio-only packages.

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What wasn't in the Q&A but something I asked Charles Spicer after the Q&A is that they are also planning to reissue asscoiated artists albums too - though whether this will be Expanded or Remastered wasn't mentioned.

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They promised that two years ago. They didn't even manage to re-release Chaka Khan's Come 2 My House, which was a concrete promise they made two years ago.

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I've also noticed that no report mentioned that "new" album Chaka Khan announced a couple of months ago.

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I've also noticed that no report mentions the concrete implementation of the promise that was made at the end of the unreleased music listenign session: "you'll hear these again soon".

There's already a thread on this subject: https://prince.org/msg/7/471590

The truth is that Londell and Charles are fucking morons and grifters. End of story.

GiggityGoo said:

Regarding the resurrection of an NPG Club-styled online effort...

.

That's great and all, but I think a lot of us fans want to PHYSICALLY OWN the music. Streaming is fine, but when it comes to my favorite bands, I don't want an M4A file in my iTunes that might disappear when the licensing rights expire... I want a shiny silver CD in a nice package sitting on my shelf.

How about a little saving the planet, and your kin while you're at it?

scififilmnerd said:

There's already a thread on this subject: https://prince.org/msg/7/471590

this one is on what was actually said in the Q&A or after in the 121 questions - rather than any speculation

bizzie said:

mattosgood said:

I agree and they get that - that bit was covered by Charles and the marketing VP from Sony - they 'inherited' a mess from the various banks that had been managing The Estate and had to sort that out, sort out the Netflix restraints

.

Which were only for video, so they could have easily released audio-only packages.

.

What wasn't in the Q&A but something I asked Charles Spicer after the Q&A is that they are also planning to reissue asscoiated artists albums too - though whether this will be Expanded or Remastered wasn't mentioned.

.

They promised that two years ago. They didn't even manage to re-release Chaka Khan's Come 2 My House, which was a concrete promise they made two years ago.

.

I've also noticed that no report mentioned that "new" album Chaka Khan announced a couple of months ago.

.

I've also noticed that no report mentions the concrete implementation of the promise that was made at the end of the unreleased music listenign session: "you'll hear these again soon".

Re: Which were only for video, so they could have easily released audio-only packages.

If you read the detailed report, you'll see what you're saying is factually incorrect. The Netflix deal was signed by the previous adminstrators, with a banking background, and signed up to a deal that prohibited more than just video releases.

They get our frustration, they really do - and while proof is in the pudding, their intentions and passion for Prince and his legacy came across as genuine.

bozojones said:

The truth is that Londell and Charles are fucking morons and grifters. End of story.

That's your opinion, which of course you're entitled to but they didn't have to do the Q&A session, but they did and their passion for preserving and doing justice to Prince's legacy came through strongly.

The complexity of a SDE release is immense, in terms of production, any 3rd parties e.g. Wendy and Lisa, approvals, Warners, Sony, the family and Primary Wave all have a say plus then if it involves a lot of vinyl the fact there are not many vinyl production plants left etc

I for one, having been a doubter, am willing to give the benefit of the doubt - as proof is in the pudding.

mattosgood said:

scififilmnerd said:

There's already a thread on this subject: https://prince.org/msg/7/471590

this one is on what was actually said in the Q&A or after in the 121 questions - rather than any speculation

You could say that in that thread. The Purple Stream article did get shared there.

scififilmnerd said:

mattosgood said:

this one is on what was actually said in the Q&A or after in the 121 questions - rather than any speculation

You could say that in that thread. The Purple Stream article did get shared there.

I guess but the Truth, like facts and albums, still matters, so for those that prefer to read about the truth, I signed posted it in this thread's title and can back up what was said outside of the Q&A that it details from the 121 chat I had with Charles Spicer after the Q&A - who is the one responsible for the music releases - for those seeking any clarity

mattosgood said:

Re: Which were only for video, so they could have easily released audio-only packages.

If you read the detailed report, you'll see what you're saying is factually incorrect. The Netflix deal was signed by the previous adminstrators, with a banking background, and signed up to a deal that prohibited more than just video releases.

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I'm simply quoting Jon Bream. That's in his report of the panel.

.

Consider all the conflicting reports on this panel, why should your take be the correct one?

mattosgood said:

The complexity of a SDE release is immense, in terms of production, any 3rd parties e.g. Wendy and Lisa, approvals, Warners, Sony, the family and Primary Wave all have a say plus then if it involves a lot of vinyl the fact there are not many vinyl production plants left etc

.

Then don't do vinyl! Nobody's forcing them to do vinyl sets.

Hi Matt, what were the attendance numbers like? In the official daily update videos, there was a few quick pans across the soundstage crowd and it looked really small compared to last year. I also noticed the panel seating, downtown, (I believe it was the Lofton Hotel?) in the video, and that room holds a max of 600 people.

Was it really that low?

bizzie said:

mattosgood said:

Re: Which were only for video, so they could have easily released audio-only packages.

If you read the detailed report, you'll see what you're saying is factually incorrect. The Netflix deal was signed by the previous adminstrators, with a banking background, and signed up to a deal that prohibited more than just video releases.

.

I'm simply quoting Jon Bream. That's in his report of the panel.

.

Consider all the conflicting reports on this panel, why should your take be the correct one?

because it is straight up report of what was said, not approved by the Estate like Jon has to nor seeking to sensationalize for a headline, just relay the facts to specifically avoid all the rumours and misinformation, as @TPS and @NEGWP we are fans like anybody else and wanted to relay the truth.

bizzie said:

mattosgood said:

The complexity of a SDE release is immense, in terms of production, any 3rd parties e.g. Wendy and Lisa, approvals, Warners, Sony, the family and Primary Wave all have a say plus then if it involves a lot of vinyl the fact there are not many vinyl production plants left etc

.

Then don't do vinyl! Nobody's forcing them to do vinyl sets.

some do, some don't - same as digital downloads, CDs, streaming.

If you read the report on @TPS you'll see the cadence they said they are intending is to do big SDE type releases, small RSD type releases and streaming/digital releases across any given year.

SquirrelMeat said:

Hi Matt, what were the attendance numbers like? In the official daily update videos, there was a few quick pans across the soundstage crowd and it looked really small compared to last year. I also noticed the panel seating, downtown, (I believe it was the Lofton Hotel?) in the video, and that room holds a max of 600 people.

Was it really that low?

it did seem low - sub 500 attendees I'd say - though the evening events were boosted by locals who could purchase indivdual events

I've been in 2022, 2024 and now 2025 each time on the VIP stream, and and 2025 was much smaller than 2022 or 2024 - as to other years I don't know.

What I would say personally, is that I was sceptical about the event this year going in and the cost but gave the Thursday a B+, Friday an A+ and Saturday a B-.

Overall 2025, was much better than I expected.

mattosgood said:

bozojones said:

The truth is that Londell and Charles are fucking morons and grifters. End of story.

That's your opinion, which of course you're entitled to but they didn't have to do the Q&A session, but they did and their passion for preserving and doing justice to Prince's legacy came through strongly.

The complexity of a SDE release is immense, in terms of production, any 3rd parties e.g. Wendy and Lisa, approvals, Warners, Sony, the family and Primary Wave all have a say plus then if it involves a lot of vinyl the fact there are not many vinyl production plants left etc

I for one, having been a doubter, am willing to give the benefit of the doubt - as proof is in the pudding.

If a company is well managed and run internally, it does not need to be held accountable. Not even if you manage to quickly right wrong decisions of your own making. But that “quickly” and “decisions” is just not there, simply because the incoherent and wafer-thin communication is so obvious. It is no longer even necessary of trying to hide, straighten out or justify.
Hammering on complexity of it all is no excuse, especially after 10 years, and three muddled Celebrations.
Prove theses companies in charge are incapable of getting a music business in order, no matter how messy it is left behind. Money is there, content too, how hard can it be.

-

Already since a few years, new vinyl pressing plants have opened or are increasing fast.

Vannormal said:

mattosgood said:

That's your opinion, which of course you're entitled to but they didn't have to do the Q&A session, but they did and their passion for preserving and doing justice to Prince's legacy came through strongly.

The complexity of a SDE release is immense, in terms of production, any 3rd parties e.g. Wendy and Lisa, approvals, Warners, Sony, the family and Primary Wave all have a say plus then if it involves a lot of vinyl the fact there are not many vinyl production plants left etc

I for one, having been a doubter, am willing to give the benefit of the doubt - as proof is in the pudding.

If a company is well managed and run internally, it does not need to be held accountable. Not even if you manage to quickly right wrong decisions of your own making. But that “quickly” and “decisions” is just not there, simply because the incoherent and wafer-thin communication is so obvious. It is no longer even necessary of trying to hide, straighten out or justify.
Hammering on complexity of it all is no excuse, especially after 10 years, and three muddled Celebrations.
Prove theses companies in charge are incapable of getting a music business in order, no matter how messy it is left behind. Money is there, content too, how hard can it be.

-

Already since a few years, new vinyl pressing plants have opened or are increasing fast.

They can never put out enough new music, quickly enough for us ultra fans. If you have read the @TPS article, you'll know they picked up a mess and have been sorting it out.

They didn't have to do the Q&A but they did, they answered fam questions and their passion for protecting Prince's legacy came across as sincere.

[Edited 6/10/25 7:15am]

GiggityGoo said:

Regarding the resurrection of an NPG Club-styled online effort...

.

That's great and all, but I think a lot of us fans want to PHYSICALLY OWN the music. Streaming is fine, but when it comes to my favorite bands, I don't want an M4A file in my iTunes that might disappear when the licensing rights expire... I want a shiny silver CD in a nice package sitting on my shelf.

I've still got the NPGMC audio files sitting on my computer from 20+ years ago.

mattosgood said:

Sorry bud, but you're a sucker. You overpaid for a mediocre event and instead of rightfully criticizing the estate for their grift, you've deluded yourself into believing that they're honest people, and now you're doing free damage control for them on an online forum.

muleFunk said:

mattosgood said:

That's your opinion, which of course you're entitled to but they didn't have to do the Q&A session, but they did and their passion for preserving and doing justice to Prince's legacy came through strongly.

The complexity of a SDE release is immense, in terms of production, any 3rd parties e.g. Wendy and Lisa, approvals, Warners, Sony, the family and Primary Wave all have a say plus then if it involves a lot of vinyl the fact there are not many vinyl production plants left etc

I for one, having been a doubter, am willing to give the benefit of the doubt - as proof is in the pudding.

They don't have to get 3rd party approvals to do anything because Prince owned the music. Wendy and Lisa, The Time, The Family, Shelia E, NPG were all employees of PRN. Now they want to get those people involved in the promotion they will be asking and negotiating with them but actual releases of music Siny, The Estate, and Primary Wave owns the names and likenesses of those groups.

do you know the ins and outs of their contracts...

If you've read the TPS full report, you'll see why and not need to make assumptions - as it's not helpful to any of us and exactly why I started this thread - to keep to facts and the truth - not what people think or believe.

bozojones said:

Sorry bud, but you're a sucker. You overpaid for a mediocre event and instead of rightfully criticizing the estate for their grift, you've deluded yourself into believing that they're honest people, and now you're doing free damage control for them on an online forum.

I've been to Celebration in 2022, 2024 and now 2025 - while I would say I think this year was over priced going in and I am more than happy I went and will go again next year; as funnily enough I don't need you to think for me or tell me whether I got my money's worth...

I am reporting what was said and promoting the truth of that rather than allow spin and make believe - as, to quote the great man himself, "Ain't nothing ever came from complaining 'cept a bitter heart, that's true..."

SquirrelMeat said:

mattosgood said:

Vannormal said:

If a company is well managed and run internally, it does not need to be held accountable. Not even if you manage to quickly right wrong decisions of your own making. But that “quickly” and “decisions” is just not there, simply because the incoherent and wafer-thin communication is so obvious. It is no longer even necessary of trying to hide, straighten out or justify.
Hammering on complexity of it all is no excuse, especially after 10 years, and three muddled Celebrations.
Prove theses companies in charge are incapable of getting a music business in order, no matter how messy it is left behind. Money is there, content too, how hard can it be.

-

Already since a few years, new vinyl pressing plants have opened or are increasing fast.

They can never put out enough new music, quickly enough for us ultra fans. If you have read the @TPS article, you'll know they picked up a mess and have been sorting it out.

They didn't have to do the Q&A but they did, they answered fam questions and their passion for protecting Prince's legacy came across as sincere.

[Edited 6/10/25 7:15am]

From what i 'read' from The Purple Stream's post :

"Chapman opened the discussion with a clear message: "We are Prince’s family. You're going to hear things you like, things you might not like. It's okay to disagree..."

-
What a painful way to 'Celebrate'. This sounds to me they knew all along that shit was going to hit the fan, probably pre-discussed this, so the panel was warned to receive 'difficult' questions from fans, which apparently did not even happen. And that's the saddest part of this story. (What kind of real fans were actually there?)

-

Another thing that I read from this same Purple Stream report :

"The panel featured Zach Hochkeppel, VP of Marketing for Legacy Recording at Sony Music; Johnny Nelson, son of Prince’s brother John R. Nelson; Charles F. Spicer Jr., managing member of Prince Legacy LLC; and Londell McMilllan, a close friend of Prince and a dedicated fan..."

-

Is Londell McMillan still on top with the team? Last year he was all over the place iirc.

Because, I see Spicer posting things on Instagram, not (so much) McMillan. (I'm not an expert here. Just a question.)

Is John R. nelson new to the team?

Then this :

"Londell McMillan concluded the lively discussion by saying, "This has felt good. Like an ‘upfront’ meeting. We need to do more, with other partners involved."
Is this a form of admitting they can't make it alone?

-

I read the TPS article. To give an answer to what you write; 'they picked up a mess and sorting it out' ? For the last 10 years?! What a steady, fast and well organised team... since they decided (unprofessionally) to give a Q&A for fans (imo).

They could communicate about this in so many other ways, better prepared and more professional. Four months since so called 'freedom', and they had to come up with this incomplete story, full of post-purple-mysteries, incompletely plans.

-

We'll get the ATWIAD SDE treatment... (i'm expecting this will not be all that big tbh).

So no better and expanded version of PR (SDE), and happy to hear the Symbol SDE is dropped. (That will probably leak at some point, from what we know it's out there.)

The best news for me is 2026 Parade SDE.

And if it's true what they say, that some singles will be released in between, then I'm happy.

And then that NPGMusicClub idea... let's hope they don't fuck it up like Prince did himself.

And no news on the many live shows in the vault, eating dust?

Just my 2 cents.

[Edited 6/11/25 6:10am]

Vannormal said:

mattosgood said:

They can never put out enough new music, quickly enough for us ultra fans. If you have read the @TPS article, you'll know they picked up a mess and have been sorting it out.

They didn't have to do the Q&A but they did, they answered fam questions and their passion for protecting Prince's legacy came across as sincere.

[Edited 6/10/25 7:15am]

From what i 'read' from The Purple Stream's post :

"Chapman opened the discussion with a clear message: "We are Prince’s family. You're going to hear things you like, things you might not like. It's okay to disagree..."

-
What a painful way to 'Celebrate'. This sounds to me they knew all along that shit was going to hit the fan, probably pre-discussed this, so the panel was warned to receive 'difficult' questions from fans, which apparently did not even happen. And that's the saddest part of this story. (What kind of real fans were actually there?)

-

Another thing that I read from this same Purple Stream report :

"The panel featured Zach Hochkeppel, VP of Marketing for Legacy Recording at Sony Music; Johnny Nelson, son of Prince’s brother John R. Nelson; Charles F. Spicer Jr., managing member of Prince Legacy LLC; and Londell McMilllan, a close friend of Prince and a dedicated fan..."

-

Is Londell McMillan still on top with the team? Last year he was all over the place iirc.

Because, I see Spicer posting things on Instagram, not (so much) McMillan. (I'm not an expert here. Just a question.)

Is John R. nelson new to the team?

Then this :

"Londell McMillan concluded the lively discussion by saying, "This has felt good. Like an ‘upfront’ meeting. We need to do more, with other partners involved."
Is this a form of admitting they can't make it alone?

-

I read the TPS article. To give an answer to what you write; 'they picked up a mess and sorting it out' ? For the last 10 years?! What a steady, fast and well organised team... since they decided (unprofessionally) to give a Q&A for fans (imo).

They could communicate about this in so many other ways, better prepared and more professional. Four months since so called 'freedom', and they had to come up with this incomplete story, full of post-purple-mysteries, incompletely plans.

-

We'll get the ATWIAD SDE treatment... (i'm expecting this will not be all that big tbh).

So no better and expanded version of PR (SDE), and happy to hear the Symbol SDE is dropped. (That will probably leak at some point, from what we know it's out there.)

The best news for me is 2026 Parade SDE.

And if it's true what they say, that some singles will be released in between, then I'm happy.

And then that NPGMusicClub idea... let's hope they don't fuck it up like Prince did himself.

And no news on the many live shows in the vault, eating dust?

Just my 2 cents.

[Edited 6/11/25 6:10am]

It came across as Londell was in charge, they said they had been let down at the last minute by two people, one at least a woman, who were supposed to be on the panel. Charles Spicer is responsible for the Vault and what comes out if it. Warners (not there) and Sony distribute and do the marketing plans - in the 121 chat I had with Charles Spicer after the Q&A he stated he's not got any interest in further re-issues of Purple Rain - that pressure comes from the record companies.

Proof will be in the pudding as to what we get and when we get it but as I've said, I went in sceptical and came out positive - and they get loud and clear what us ultra fams want but their job is to also grow the Prince fam base, taking Prince's music to the general public, more casual fams and to new generations, so we might not like everything they do.

mattosgood said:

Vannormal said:

It came across as Londell was in charge, they said they had been let down at the last minute by two people, one at least a woman, who were supposed to be on the panel. Charles Spicer is responsible for the Vault and what comes out if it. Warners (not there) and Sony distribute and do the marketing plans - in the 121 chat I had with Charles Spicer after the Q&A he stated he's not got any interest in further re-issues of Purple Rain - that pressure comes from the record companies.

Proof will be in the pudding as to what we get and when we get it but as I've said, I went in sceptical and came out positive - and they get loud and clear what us ultra fams want but their job is to also grow the Prince fam base, taking Prince's music to the general public, more casual fams and to new generations, so we might not like everything they do.

Which, frankly, they have been conspicuously lacking in recent years, right? Why should that change now, with the same people?

By the way, this “Celebration” is the first time ever communicated. With too many ambiguities in my opinion. And the fact that supposedly 45% of the material (video seem to be the problem) has only been digitized, sounds also like a shortcoming within the last 10 years. So by 2038 everything should be ready, at this rate?

I know they say it's all very expensive. But with the tools we all have now, AI and the like, it should be less time-consuming and cost less imho (though I'm not an expert).

Most gonna kill me for saying this, but, I prefer to give up on Paisly Park (as an expensive building), and invest in what's most important; the music.

It's all just so thin, little, meager, incoherent, and above all frustrating.