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?

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

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 assume that everyone here is an adult. But as an adult I would like to think that my decision making skills are mature. People get a grip on reality. There is absolutely no reason to be insulted. You may have reason to be disappointed, but not insulted. Even if you joined the club during year one, you should have known that Prince has a consistent track record of broken promises and releases that never see the light of day. As with year 1, 2, and 3 members are paying for a package. The name of the club insinuates that you are going to be paying for music services, but this is Prince were talking about here. Ya know, the short little sex dwarf with the track record? I said it before under my alias StinkyWeaselTeats, and I'll say it again. If you feel like your getting fucked over, then you deserve it. Eventually, I hope you enjoy your purchase for what it's worth.

psykosoul said:

...you were stinky???

I don't have a big problem with the box set except the title - The Chocolate Invasion. Sounds like something out of Comedy Central - South Park Theatre Presents
Mr. Hanky starring in The Chocolate Invasion! Mr. Hanky returns to South Park to solve the mystery of who is buying up all the chocolate in South Park & flushing it down the sewers in an all new Christmas adventure!
Wednesday at 10:00 PM EST
Friday at 12:00 PM EST

I don't have a big problem with the box set except the title - The Chocolate Invasion. Sounds like something out of Comedy Central - South Park Theatre Presents
Mr. Hanky starring in The Chocolate Invasion! Mr. Hanky returns to South Park to solve the mystery of who is buying up all the chocolate in South Park & flushing it down the sewers in an all new Christmas adventure!
Wednesday at 10:00 PM EST
Friday at 12:00 PM EST

What a value system we have. Prince can't be 'all about the money' but we can? I, for one, feel this music has a value to me outside of the price or how much I get per dollar. That's the whole problem with assigning a dollar value to art - it creates bean-counter mentality and subsequently decreases the content of the art. It's happening right now in all forms of art and entertainment. The RIAA is suing its own consumers, The Walt Disney Company is cannibalizing it's properties, the motion picture industry hasn't allowed a decent film to be made in years because of reliance on focus groups, television has become a plethora of home made videos. If we separated the perceived value of art from the implicit value, we'd be in a lot healthier shape.

Do you think he will put the members names in the liner notes like on ONA Live?

Anyone else noticed that the "stop knocking Prince" gang are all fairly new new to the org?

There is a big influx of casual fans, who rightly wanting the music, can't understand what has gone before them?

Check the negative comments above this. A very large amount (and the most bitchy) are from new and casual followers.

Strange isn't it?

I hope cborgman reads this so he'll stop assuming that it was EllisDee.

Ian, I'm suprised at you!

What does exclusivity mean to you then?

Heres the dictionary description:

Exclusive:

Not allowing something else; incompatible: mutually exclusive conditions.

Not divided or shared with others: exclusive publishing rights.

Not accompanied by others; single or sole: your exclusive function.

Complete; undivided: gained their exclusive attention.

Excluding some or most, as from membership or participation: an exclusive club.


Now I do agree with you, its only music, and not worth getting hot under the collar about, and of course, I don't have to buy it. But...

Is it right I pay $100 for "exclusive" material, which becomes available (at a likely, much cheaper price) in a superior quality?

Is it right?

Some of y'all love to get worked over nothing.

If you already have the music, great. If you don't, now you have another chance to buy it. What is the problem here, precisely?



Some of y'all need to grow up and understand the bottom line: Prince makes music to get paid. He'd be an idiot not to exploit his assets, past recordings etc - every other record company does it, and so should NPGMC. If "exclusivity" is so important to people, well you got that - you had the music years before the nonmembers.

Ian is on fire! well said Mr Moderator.

Reminds me of an old chocolate bar that Mars used to make when i was a kid, i loved it, told my friends all about it, but they were too young to remember and Mars had the nerve to re-issue it just so my younger friends could enjoy it.god i was so pissed!

'scuse me while i get back to my

Marrk said:

What chocolate was it? I'll buy it tomorrow just to piss you off haha

Some of y'all love to get worked over nothing.

If you already have the music, great. If you don't, now you have another chance to buy it. What is the problem here, precisely?

The only negative aspect I can think of is that personally I don't think the NPGMC material was (overall) good enough for a proper "album" release. But I can appreciate that Prince wants to capitalise on his IP from the previous years of NPGMC, and I can appreciate that there is probably a (small) market for it. So, everyone's happy.

To anyone whining about "exclusivity" - listen you bought COPIES of Prince's music - recordings available as files. You don't own exclusive rights to that work for the rest of all time. Prince will do what he wants to do with his music, in order to make money. You can either buy it, or not. I won't of course, because I have the music already. I'll keep waiting for the next "proper" album release.

Some of y'all need to grow up and understand the bottom line: Prince makes music to get paid. He'd be an idiot not to exploit his assets, past recordings etc - every other record company does it, and so should NPGMC. If "exclusivity" is so important to people, well you got that - you had the music years before the nonmembers.

SquirrelMeat said:

Yes, it is entirely right.

Anyone who bought into NPGMC on the basis of the music remaining "exclusive" forever really needs a dose of reality. You got the music you paid for, and you got it "exclusively" (at the time it was not available elsewhere) before anyone else. Done deal.

Tell me why, 2-3 years later, it matters to you that Prince chooses to make the most out of his intellectual property and reissues it? It is his work, his assets, his business, and he can do whatever the fuck he wants to do with it. There isn't a record company in the world that would sell you music under the proviso that it would never be reissued in the future. That just isn't reality. Record companies factor in reissues, greatest hits packages, licensing deals, and lots of other things as a way to recoup production costs down the line. It's a fundamental part of the business model. Similar rules apply in other industries such as the movie industry and the videogame industry. If you could buy genuinely exclusive access to some Prince music (effectively preventing Prince from further profiting from his work years down the line) believe me that your paltry membership of $100 would need several zeroes added to the end.

Throw around semantics all you like, and cut and paste dictionary definitions all you like, but if you really thought you were getting exclusive access to the music forever and ever, you were being utterly naive and unrealistic.

ian said:

You are missing the point.

I never asked if he would or would not go back on his word. I asked if you think it is right?

Does this mean that contracts mean nothing? The NPGMC is a written and verbal contract. Court action is a different matter.

Can I say, "fuck the org rules! these are my words, why can't I say what I want!". Sure you could boot me, but based on what? The clear org rules? What if I signed to them, and then changed my mind?

Prince is allowed to break an agreement, but not org members? Don't you think that is hypocritical?

Now, before you argue, if you don't like it, you can leave. You have previously made it very clear that the NPGMC is a different story from the org, because the NPGMC charges. It changes the whole scenario.

So, I pay, agree a contract, but you think we should accept Prince's right to sell his stuff, even though he was willing to contract otherwise?

Sure I can cut and paste dictionary quotes all I like, but equally, you can quote org rules all you like. At what point does an agreement mean anything?

ian said:

You are missing the point.

I never asked if he would or would not go back on his word. I asked if you think it is right?

Does this mean that contracts mean nothing? The NPGMC is a written and verbal contract. Court action is a different matter.

Can I say, "fuck the org rules! these are my words, why can't I say what I want!". Sure you could boot me, but based on what? The clear org rules? What if I signed to them, and then changed my mind?

Prince is allowed to break an agreement, but not org members? Don't you think that is hypocritical?

Now, before you argue, if you don't like it, you can leave. You have previously made it very clear that the NPGMC is a different story from the org, because the NPGMC charges. It changes the whole scenario.

So, I pay, agree a contract, but you think we should accept Prince's right to sell his stuff, even though he was willing to contract otherwise?

Sure I can cut and paste dictionary quotes all I like, but equally, you can quote org rules all you like. At what point does an agreement mean anything?