Once again, a “new” Prince release has a caused bit of a stir, for the right and wrong reasons.

This thread is a comment of both the Prince music release, and its impact on the NPGMC.

The Chocolate Invasion is great for the current members who had not joined in year 1 & 2, but yet again, it eradicates the “Xclusivity” paid for by those members that had joined at the time.

The actions of the NPGMC baffle me. Do they secretly love creating conflict? This could have been so easily avoided.

Many new “fams” claim that Prince is listening to them, releasing on CD, what they have been asking for. But you could look at this another way. If Prince was listening to his fans, why not listen to those loyal members who asked for exclusivity, in return for their $100 in year one and two? Why not listen to the hundreds of fans asking for CB II or early live albums?

It can only mean it has been done for one reason. To make more money, at the expense of a loyal fan base, by regurgitating old material yet again.

Lets look at year 1. Considered by many to be the best year, musically at least. Some liked the monthly hit, some wanted CDs. NPGMC chose its format. All we needed to do was decide if we wanted to join.

$100 is a lot of money to some people, but as it was sold as the only way to get this music, many of us signed up. Year one never mentioned anything about getting the music first, before it comes out on CD. It clearly claimed “xclusivity”, before it tore the words down halfway through. Through fear of never getting this material again, many signed up.

Sure, year one had its problems. Broadband/ASDL was not as widespread then, so many fans could not download the Ahdio shows or videos. If they were going to offer up anything 2 years later, you might hope it would be those files many people could not get, even though they were members.

With year 2, when many people complained about three of the “four exclusive CDs” being released to retail (cheaper and earlier), many NPGMC supporters reminded those fans that the ONA studio CD was still a valid exclusive release.

In fact, even the NPGMC used the ONA studio CD as part of their defence to the BBB complaints. Also, NPGMC mentioned the exclusivity of the year one tracks in their defence.

Additional to their defence, they also gave away Xpectation. This had many fams proclaiming that Prince has delivered once again.

They have now reneged on many of those promises, yet again, when they didn’t need too. Why? Dollars.

A great deal of members in year one and two had no chance of a tour, so the exclusive music is what kept them going. Now, they are finding out that their $200 bought them inferior quality files and overpriced CDs.

To rub salt in the wounds, they now find that exclusivity meant nothing, and for a price that will probably be less that 50% of what they paid, the music is available in a superior package.

With that in mind, don’t they have the right to be disillusioned and pissed off?

I am in total agreement that the music should be available to those who missed out before and want it now, but you have to remember. It was marketed to those who were in year one and two as something special. They were suckered in by a badly thought out business venture.

So is it about dollars or fams?

By the NPGMC not allowing people to pick and choose out of the 7 discs, they are forcing many people to buy the whole set, for possibly one or two discs they need. CNOTE is a good example. This only went to selected members, so a great many would want that disc. But do we really want or need yet another copy of ONA?

As for the 7 disc set itself, unless they add a great deal of new tracks, this is actually 4 to 5 CDs of material at the most.

I am sure there will be some blind fams who will still claim exclusivity was delivered. My bet is that not every track from year 1 will make it on the CDs, and with the odd new track thrown in (maybe Musicology) some will argue that the package is catering for everyone.

But if they do throw some now tracks on there, I think it adds insult to injury. It will mean that loyal fams from year 1 and 2 will have to buy the WHOLE lot again, just for a few tracks.

If they don’t include any new tracks, then they have simply stitched up those loyal members, but giving away all of their exclusivity at a fraction of the price.

In some ways, the NPGMC is damned if they do, damned if they don’t, but they put themselves in that situation by reneging on promises.

They could avoid this so simply. Make the discs individual. Give an extra disc to the members of year one and two (NOT ONA!). They could have kept many more people happy. But yet again, they seem to be acting in the interest of money only.

Of course there are many people who will think this set is heaven sent. Do you think P did it for you, or for the money?

If its was for you (the fam) what would you say to the people who have already paid out $200 dollars for it?

It could be said, “if you don’t want it, don’t buy it”. But “fan-dom” is not like buying apples in the supermarket. You want all the music you can get your hands on. When it’s packaged in such a way, you are forced to buy and re-buy again and again.

Record companies have been accused by the media of ripping off fans, by re- issuing releases with an extra track or two.

Prince is taking this exploitation one step further than the corporate labels he hates so much. No?

VERY NICELY PUT!!!

SquirrelMeat said:

Hi SquirrelMeat,

Would you mind expanding on this point. I did not join in Year 1 due to having dial-up internet only (we also pay for local calls in the UK and I did not relish the thought of being connected for hours to download this music) so I don't know how the monthly downloads were "structured". You suggest they were split between the NPGMC MP3 tracks, the Ahdio shows, and Video files. What if some members could not get some of the MP3s to download either (or did this not happen)? Now they can get these files at last.

Every facts or piece of news by or concerning Prince is becoming almost political... We're not Congressmen for Christ's sake!

Like many said before me it all comes down to one thing: buy it or not! As far as I'm concerned i'm glad some fans' wish gets satisifed and NPGMC listens fans' pleas (pre-listening for news etc...) but some will always "theorize"...

CHILL OUT!!!

klaatu said:

Can I use this as my next sig?

NuPwrSoul said:

sure you can!!!

Not, that I would, but you could always take the CDs that you want and sell or give away the others and possibly make some of your money back.

ONA is selling like like hot cakes on Ebay as well as Super Cute and 2045 Radical man etc.

Like I said, I wouldn't, but apparently some one is making the money.

my

I see the points being made about this box set, but honestly, I'm not bothered about it. I'll buy the thing, even though it'll be the THIRD time ONA has arrived on my doorstep (it's good, but ENOUGH ALREADY) and most of the discs seem to be EP length.

We just don't know enough yet about the make-up of this box set, the packaging, or the price, to pass any kind of substantial judgment yet. And if it seems like a rip, there's always the option of not buying the damn thing.

I think most of us would be happy if it were just the downloads from NPGMC Years 1 and 2, but what can ya do.

It could be said, “if you don’t want it, don’t buy it”. But “fan-dom” is not like buying apples in the supermarket. You want all the music you can get your hands on. When it’s packaged in such a way, you are forced to buy and re-buy again and again.

forced??? what the fuck are you talking about! its not princes fault if you feel the need to buy every re-issue and every fucking little thing in every edition there is. thats your choice mate. universal have put out their second aerosmith collection, i dont have either of them. i have all the aerosmith albums but i refuse to buy these cos i have the songs already. i made my choice!

yes prince is stucka nd i agree with you on alot of the points made, but personally, as someone who has never heard anything on that 7 cd set, i htink its brilliant he's doing it. as i say, if i had been a member int eh first 2 years, it would be annoying now simply cos i wouldnyt have the artwork that in theory should be coming with the set, but i still wouldnt buy it unless i saw it in a sale etc. if you had to choose, prince release choc invasion or not, i would. and i think alot of other people would too.

It's always an issue. No matter what happens someone is dissatified. Prince is not Santa clause or the magic fairy spreading angel dust. He's not going to save your life or bring Jesus back. He is just a musical genuis trying to create art, enjoy his life, and run an independant business. He doesn't have all the answers. Alot of people seem to complain simply to make themselves seem powerful. See i'm taking on the genuis, i must be one too. If u really felt ripped off u would just float your little self away to a more fulfilling activity, but u dont'. Why because u get off being the voice of doom and dispair. None of this is that crucial. Hell i have bought expensive clothes that I ended up wearing once. We all blow money on countless things. Why is money blown on your so called hero so damn crucial to u? I'm a member of the club but so what. It a measly little part of my life, nothing to get stressed about. I hope prince make millions and millions. He sells it we buy it. If u don't like the product quit buying it. Why are u trying to convince others how to spend their money? I could care less. Buy 10 chocolate invasions if u want. Buy 0 if u want. I myself will buy it becuase i want it, very simple. I've been listening to the stuff for 2 years now. I got my money's worth. If u didn't then really it your problem.

I was a member in year one and I am a member now. I think prince would be an absolute fool not to release this 7cd set. it will let alot of people know what they have missed for the past three years. There is nothing wrong with expanding your business. so the only way to make some of you happy would be if prince had you into his living room and played a song just for you individually and no one else would ever hear it. if you dont want it...then dont buy it. if your not gonna buy it, then shut the hell up about it because I for one am sick and tired of your complaints. go join another fan club please...

tricky99 said:

OK since I'm collecting sigs, can I use yours?

KeithyT said:

Hi Mate.

In year 1, all the files were seperate downloads. Even for dial ups, the new tracks were faily easy to get, but the ahdio show and videos were between 40 and 80 meg files. A dial up nightmare.

I'm sure a great deal of Year 1 members would love the chance to get those files as well.

NuPwrSoul said:

sure, i'd be honored

CherryMoon said:

Very true. All I'm saying is NPGMC could have helped out, by making the discs available individually.

It would have made a great deal of people happier.

I think the problem that some Members from Year 1 have is this “exclusivity” issue. By making these songs available to those who did not join in 2001 they feel it somehow takes away the “specialness” of that year (and yes, I understand the NPGMC may have stated the exclusiveness of these tracks at the time).

Now I consider myself a pretty dedicated fan (maybe not as hardcore as some but certainly not a casual Prince listener) and I did not join in Year 1 for reasons that I have described further up this thread. I lurked at the old incarnation of the org and heard members posting about all these new songs like Supercute, Vavoom, and Gamillah. I was so gutted that I had chosen not to join but it really was not viable for me to do so financially or technologically. Now it looks like I will be able to at last hear these songs. I am very happy about this release. If I have to buy a 7 CD set to get them so be it.

There have been similar viewpoints on NPGMC about the possible release of ONA and Xpectation on CD. Some members have stated they didn’t want them to be released because it somehow takes away from the exclusivity of Year 2. I did join in Year 2. I have ONA Piano and Voice on CD, I got a second copy in my ONA Live box and gave it to my sister as a Christmas present. I have the Xpectation and C-NOTE mp3s and have burnt them to CD-R. I don’t feel they are exclusively mine. I don’t feel part of an elite group that has heard these songs. I don’t want to gloat and say “you should have joined in Year 2, us loyal members have been members since Year dot”. I don’t know the reason why people did not join before but I am sure they have been kicking themselves just like I did the previous year.

Now they can stop kicking themselves.

The solution is to stop paying for that bullshit.

softandwet said:

I think you are misunderstanding my meaning.

I don't mean buying everything for re-issue sake. I'm talking about original, new material.

A lot of people did not get CNOTE offered as a download. These people will have to buy 7 CDs, just to get one. And those very same people are the ones who have already spent $200 to get the other 6 discs worth of material.

For some of those loyal members, it smacks of exploitation.

I think there should have been an indication of what 2 expect from the club this year. Id rather sacrifice the element of surprise than sacrificing money.

tricky99 said:

Hmmm.

The first half of your post is full of grammar and spelling mistakes.

The second half tries to invent a senario I did not describe, and neither has anyone else on this thread.

So if you want to give it another go, and talk about the topic rather than making up facts about other people, I'd be happy to respond.

funkycomic said:

Shouldn't you be living in the la la land of NPGMC "U tell US".

The org is the place for free debate. But that obviously pisses you off if you don't agree.

Why are you bothering to respond at all? As you say. I can simply ingore the CDs. You can simply ingore the thread.

Or is double standard your middle name?

SquirrelMeat said

That would be scenario.

langebleu said:

Love it!

I for one am glad that the NPGMC year 1 is getting a CD release since I've been pointing this out to the NPGMC cronies ever since I joined that year...
However I think all members of the first year should receive a free copy of the set since they already paid fucking $100 for this "Xclusive" material...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

Exactly. I want as many fans as possible to have access to this material. Its not about keeping it for ourselves. But The year 1 members were sold an inferior version for $100, while supporting the club in its birth.

If there is a business brain cell over at NPGMC, they should be adressing this balance.

Neversin said:

We have already received what we paid for--mp3s and vid clips and priority tix for concerts.

This is a different format. Folks who do not get it, still have the music they paid for in the format they for.

NuPwrSoul said:

I know none of want to go through the "what we got, what we didn't get" thing, but at the beginning of year one our $100 was supposed to get us "xclusive" music and a world tour.

Where we stand today. We got neither.

I can understand all the arguments here, but one thing, which has already been mentioned many many times, would solve it all:

Split the CDs up.

End of trouble.

I admit that while I see your point Squirrel Meat. I think we all might be rushing to judjment. Does anyone have the real & true tracklist? Has anyone seen this 'Extraordinary' packaging? Did some of you forget about Celebration & the ONA Tour that we were ALL privy too with our $100 PAID membership last year???
I was not a member the first year & I do wish I had that music - I was a member in year 2 & felt FAR more priveledged simply being allowed to attend ONA Tour, sound check, after party, Celebration (even tho I didnt go, i could have), these are things, in my opinion, you CANNOT put a price on!
Something like this:

Cost of NPGMC membership w/aweseome website: $100

Tickets to concert: $125 each

Premium seating @ concert, w/sound check & after party, 7 day celebration @ Paisley Park, exclusive merchandise & Free Music provided by NPGMC website: Priceless

~Why must we complain? We did NOT ONLY get free music with our paid membership...
You all need a reality check!!~

I am VERY happy that Prince/NPG is going to release all the music in one package, I have NEVER regretted paying $100 to be an exclusive member of this club & I would do it again !!!

darababyd said:

Get serious you blind fam!
How is $100 for music free???
I didn't get shit that was "Xclusive" for $100, just the option to pay more money for a "soundcheck"...
You need to jump out of Prince's bunghole, he doesn't love you...

Neversin.