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Prince Wants His Music Back ... Now
MTV News 07.24.2003 7:32 PM EDT

Prince wants his music back. Just a month before he releases the first DVD from his New Power Generation Music Club, the club has sent its paid members a list of album rarities Prince would like returned in his continuing struggle to guard against bootlegging and to control his own sonic real estate.

In an e-mail sent Wednesday to the NPGMC, fans were asked to "Help the cause!" and look for "anything with a WB logo that was unofficially released during Prince's tenure at that label."

Among the suggested discs to send in, according to a list provided by the NPGMC, were releases by such companies as Back 2 Back, 2-on-1 and BackTrax, which included such classic Prince singles as "Purple Rain," "Little Red Corvette," "Erotic City," "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy." Much of the material on the list — from CD and cassette singles to box sets and home videos — was released as imports sold in Germany, Japan and the U.K.

The e-mail asks for the material to be mailed to The Ways of the Pharoah, PO Box 169, Vermilion, OH 44089-0169, but without mention of a reward, reimbursement or compensation.

Fans are already in an uproar over the missive. One fan posting to a message board on Prince.org under the name Goldie's Parade wrote, "I bought all those in a shop, so I legally own them, and Prince wants me to send them back free of charge. Fool."

An explanation was later posted on the NPGMC Web site. "Not long ago, an unauthorized version of the concert film 'Sign O' the Times' surfaced online," the message read. "Supposedly originating in Brazil and distributed by WEA International, this DVD is not something that was approved by Prince or any of his affiliates. ... We all know that Prince is one of the most bootlegged artists of his generation, and while much of the activity is tolerated, it crosses the line when Prince's (former) record company ... gets in the mix. The (reason for this request is) to show a federal court the actual truth of this age-old rift between artist and label."

"Let Prince steward his own catalogue," the message pleaded. "Then the 'coupled,' poor-quality, unmastered versions of his classics would cease. Imagine in 2004, a brand new, pristine, remastered version of 'Purple Rain,' released on high-definition DVD with extras, outtakes and liner notes from the Artist himself."

Prince recorded albums between 1978 and 1996 on Warner Bros., whom he's accused of unfair business practices. He split from the label circa the release of Chaos and Disorder, citing issues of control. Though he failed to get Warner Bros. to return the ownership of his master recordings (the label still owns Prince's back catalogue), Prince is legally allowed to re-record any of his Warner Bros. songs.

A spokesperson for the singer could not reach Prince for comment at press time.

—Jennifer Vineyard

Prince has a spokesperson? Speak the F up already!!! And make yourself known!!!

MinneapolisFunk said:

i doubt it's the same person kevin smith spoke about

i feel another faux mtv news story comin on...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

no... i don't want to confuse people further... it's already hard enough to believe... and besides, i've already done my part

suomynona said:

Ok: More... Explanation of the "CAUSE" (NPGMC request)
Here is another email trying to explain yesterday's request.

Perhaps this notice will clear up any confusion brought on by the
CAUSE emale u received recently. Not long ago, an UNauthorized
version of the concert film SIGN O THE TIMES surfaced online.
Supposedly originating in Brazil and distributed by WEA International-
this DVD is not something that was approved by Prince or any of his
affiliates. Enuff is enuff...

We all know that Prince is one of the most bootlegged artists of his
generation and while much of this activity is tolerated, it crosses
the line when Prince's 4mer record company who is entrusted 2 steward
his catalogue gets in the mix.

The CAUSE emale is a simple request 2 show a Federal Court the actual
truth of this age-old riff between ARTIST and LABEL.

Even if u were kind enuff 2 send us just ONE cd that is shown on the
list u were mailed, it will serve as ample notice that we r tired of
this endless MISrepresentation of this man's life-long work. He
deserves better.

Let Prince steward his OWN catalogue, then the "coupled", poor-
quality, unmastered versions of his classics would cease. Imagine in
2004, a brand-new, prisitine, RE-mastered version of PURPLE RAIN
released on high definition DVD with xtras, outtakes and liner notes
from the Artist himself arriving at ur door. That alone is worth the
effort of helping us with the CAUSE.

-love4oneanother, NPGMC

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No honestly, I think if prince and his ppl wouldve made this point from the very beginning, he wouldn't be getting all this backlash from the fans...this is just another stir up on the publicity tip, he should know by all this time, his so-called fans would cause a circus over this!!!

I am not upset by his request, I completely understand his request for the music so that he can plead his case, wondering why he wasn't given any of these releases throughout the years since it was his music, but I guess being in that business and being a huge icon, your music somehow eventually gets the best of you and becomes even bigger where you can't keep track of all the unofficial releases and compilations...so this really sucks for him!

I really do wish Prince his masters back, and its gonna take some time for him, but he does need our SUPPORT!

I never thought to purchase any of these releases...because I not that insane of a fan!
I love me some prince, but not enough to buy the back to back trax and singles that I already had on cd or cassette.

I have all the official 12 inch records and full length albums, maybe a few singles with b-sides that i didn't own, but nothing unofficial, so I can't send any proof of them to Prince and Npgmc, but I hope we all can help him out in some way, shape or form, please don't leave Prince hanging on this!!!

HE NEEDS OUR HELP! I personally don't own Sign o'times dvd, I have the video form 1987, and I don't own purple rain, i bought that official too, I still love my VHS tapes.

so if he releases a new dvd of these shows with some xtras I'm all for it, but I can say, by releasing the dvd...in 80minutes and it was a 3hour show, I doubt if he'll give us something special on those upcoming DVD's...I am a bit disappointed in the LAS VEGAS release because I want the newer material on the dvd also...I'm tired of all this old crap from Prince in 2003.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT GUYS...
PRINCE NEEDS OUR HELP, I do stand by him, and if i come across anything...i'll send it to them!

PEACE AND NOT 2 WAR!
www.NewPowerDetroit.com