Well, to start, anyone who hasn't posted on the thread at the club should do so. It may not seem like a big deal, but the downright ignorance of the law over there is staggering. The thread is the most viewed thread on the site, in only 48 hours. That must say something.
Secondly, (and maybe not realistically), if it's possible to gain access to the HOF induction, some nice banners in the audience with "RIP G2P & Smallclub.org" might throw some unwelcome attention on the bullying tactics currently being employe by the PP legal team.
I must also once again point out to those that refuse to observe the facts - we are talking about reviews of available material. Not the sale of bootlegs. We are talking about law, not your "blindly following Prince's wishes" opinion. I truly wonder if the people who say "they shouldn't be allowed to talk about bootlegs" care at all about such things as the law. Especially those US fans who proudly spout off about the constitution and freedom of speech. It doesn't only mean freedom to speak about what YOU think is acceptable. Or are you so blind in your devotion to someone who doesn't even know you exist, and probably doesn't care either, that you are happy that their representatives break the law?

Finally, we have to stop giving them new targets. Don't post links to sites like the 2 that have been taken down. The Purple sheep are keeping an eye on places like this to run and inform on other "bad sites".

I for one will vote with my money and no longer attend any concerts. With regards to buying his releases, it is definitely something I shall be thinking long and hard about.
And if someon did actually set up a legal fund for the sites to fight this bullying, you can count on my financial support.

I read this thread about 75%, so forgive me if this idea has been stated already in the remaining 25%.

How about a statement from the fans, kind of like a press release - You guys could write and organise it between you.

When a final statement has come together, we could post it where ever possible, as a news piece - and post it periodically on the NPGMC boards.

I know it will get deleted over and over by the mods, but if different people post it periodically every day, the mods will at least get the message that the fans are not happy with this situation.

I'm not sure where you could post this 'press release' as news, but making a name for the group, and publishing it whereever possible (submit it to entertainment websites, entertainment and industry message boards).

Even if a couple of websites publish it, or write a small piece about it - those URLs could be forwarded to the NPGMC board, by posting there, or by email.

I think having a statement is quite constructive, and shows a solidarity amongst fans, rather than just each of us airing our personal opinions, if we agree on one stance and write it out as a cohesive statement - it looks more professional.

Well that's my

I'd sue HIM for giving us such a crappy music like TRC or NEWS or the other shit he composes now.
Prince I'm mad, WE ARE MAD, don't fuck with your fans!

Nothinbutjoy said:

___


Co-sign

bluelight said:

That's a bit strong

xt1000 said:

Nah, I give him support.

CUSS PRINCE, CUSS!

I don't wish to sound negative but I don't think there is anything at all to be achieved by organising any sort of protest. It would be a waste of your own precious time and energy. Does anyone honestly think Prince will even listen to your concerns, let alone do anything about them?

The only way we can have any effect on the way Prince runs his business is obvious as stated by Dansa :
Vote with your $.

If he releases an album and only 100 people buy it, or he allocates 15 rows to NPGMC for his next show, but only 10 members apply for tickets, mabye then he'll change the way he's doing things.

No matter what you might like to believe, or what Prince might like you to believe, the bottom line is, was, and always will be money. As long as Prince is making as much as he deems 'enough', don't expect anything to change.

I remember in 1999,when Prince sued Uptown,somebody wrote a scathing letter to the PPML,titled "Tell Record Stores To Stop".This fan urged a huge boycott.Anyone remember this? That girl was dead serious...lol...

Let's unite and sue Larry Graham for corrupting Prince's mind!

First, email NPGNC multiple times, until they are deluged with mail.

Picket in front of Paisley Park.

Send letters to CJ. I know.

Send a million complaints to Paisley address.

Confront Prince in person.

But, alas, Prince fans aint got guts...or do they?

I was number 69!

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

a-ha! this is just one of my ideas. how can not supportin him with our cash in order to prove a point be "bullshit"? your above statement makes no sense.

besides, nowadays it's not exactly like he's some chart-topping superstar whose album is the talk of the town. those days are pretty much over for him.

thanx to all of you who have contributed your ideas to this thread--ya'll have a lotta good ideas!

Spookymuffin said:

Thank you

As far as "boycotting" Prince by not buying official product or concert tickets, I'm a bit conflicted.

I mean, we want to support and defend those fans who created sites celebrating Prince's music, right? What logic is there in denying ourselves the very art that our maligned friends were punished for championing?

I would like to very humbly suggest that we focus on criticizing the man's decisions without demonizing his art - he's doing a good enough job of doing that on his own, he doesn't need our help.

As far as I'm concerned, if he puts out a new album, I'm gonna buy it. If he comes to town I'll go see him, as long as he ain't pulling that "$1,000 to touch the hem of my garment" stuff.

I have a huge regard for this man's music - even with bootleg stuff, about 98% of what I own has come from trading. I have maybe two or three boots in my collection that I bought - maybe this is because I don't like lining the bootleggers' pockets; maybe it's simply because I don't like paying twice the price for half the sound quality; or maybe it's just because I like sharing what I got with other fans (and having stuff shared with me), and having an opportunity to talk about it with folks who appreciate it - but I consider the music to be a completely different entity from the man who makes it.

He wants to call his songs his "children"? Fine. Children grow up. They get their own will. They live their own lives and have their own experiences.

Too many of the artists I've liked throughout my life are able to manage their music and treat their fans with dignity, love and respect - Prince could (and SHOULD) be taking a completely different path, not just to make his fans happy, but for the furthering of his own success, both on principle and in the pocketbook.

AsylumUtopia said:

I can't see that happening, and I guess Prince can't either.

Tickets go on sale - most of us will be clamouring for the best seats we can get as per.

Album goes for sale, we slap down the cash/CC.

If Prince's sales go down, I don't think he'll be relaxing his pathetic, trumped up little fights with his fans, he'll just blame other forces and circumstances as usual, and release more tripe to the dwindling number of blockheads who continue to think that the sun rises and sets between his ass-crack every day.

I think it would send a stronger message for fans to say that they will continue to support the music, but there's gotta be some music available to support, especially when there's plenty out there for the taking, regardless of whether he profits from it or not.

Boycotting the music is terribly beside the point. He's already made his money off of us.

At this point, I think it's just about being vocal and making a statement, simply for the sake of awareness and acknowledgment.

Anxiety said:

As a couple people said, I think the best thing to do is have an "official" statement created, and then send it out to all media outlets.

Someone (Anxiety?) said the've done press releases...and I'd be happy to help too (I'm an excellent business writer).

Boycotting is just dumb...sorry,..for the reasons mentioned above.

I also wish someone could give some legal advice to the websites so they dont' have to cave in (I would if I were a lawyer).

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

Oh please... "you've learnt[sic] the error of your ways?" How enlightened of you now that you've already gotten to hear all the material you "stand against" now.

Now you sound like all the rock stars who did drugs for years, and now talk about all the drugs (in effect glorifying it) but adding the obligitory "but of course drugs are bad, I learned my lesson now" at the end!

Look, creating and selling bootlegs is illegal. That is true. So PP should go after Sabotage or those people that are making money illegally. Going after individuals who love Prince so that they devote their own time and money to talk, yes TALK only,about his music, is insane.

And for other fans to be "outraged" that their compatriots are basicaly doing the same thing is just stupid.

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

Please tell me you are kidding. You are equating listening to boots etc as a sin etc damn near. LOL just as I aint boycottin a damn thing, I aint going to stop listening to unofficial material if there's an oppurtunity. That's just dumb.

You're fighting Princes fight...but in a weird way...

GaryMF said:

Anyone can purchase space in a newspaper. How about a full page ad?

Tom said:

Hallelujah, Tom!!! You're right on point...while of course I understand that it must be frightening to get a big ol' "cease-and-desist" notice from those fancy-dancy lawyers at Paisley, there is NOTHING ILLEGAL WHATSOEVER about what guide2prince was doing. It is NOT illegal to discuss bootlegs. Period. It's not illegal to post reviews of them either...the only thing that I might do if I were the owner of that website is take down all the pictures of him. If you do that, there is absolutely NO copyrighted material on the site -- and I'd then tell Prince and his lawyers in no uncertain terms that they can fuck the hell off...they have NO LEGAL RIGHT to shut down guide2prince. And if they think they do, then they can take my ass to court. Shit, I'm in debt up to my eyeballs any-goddamn-way.

Okay, so sign over ownership of guide2prince (only on paper, of course) to me and I've got nothing to lose...Prince is as out of touch with real people as George Bush is, christ.

***

And I should add that when Princey inevitably comes after the org, we better all rise up in a righteous motherfucking fury. You know he'd LOVE to come up with some bullshit reason why the org violates his copyright or some shit. Jackass.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

i guess that's a little overreacting dear. Once he'll make an album all of that hype we'll be quashed! Get a life !! There far more important problems than that... So much vilence just because prince touched to your dear Prince.org!! Hey it is clear that boots should not be a subject of advertisment, period. Question what would you do as an artist? Prince is right to do that. i am an infinite % with him on this wuest against boots. The more record he makes the more you want. Prince fans are selfish and greedy. the guy has certainly some of the worst kind ever!!!
[This message was edited Mon Jan 19 10:30:29 PST 2004 by klaatu]

Romance1600 said:

I just flashed back to Rave and the demonization of Clive and the fact that his next release was charging $100 upfront for unseen mp3 downloads. Talk about milking your remaining fanbase...

Shit, I think those of us who actually sat through Rave Un2 the Year 2000 should have been paid $100 and GIVEN some fucking downloads. That shit was DEPRESSING.

klaatu said:

Y'know, Klaatu, I've been hearing about the elusive mind-blowing album that Prince is gonna make for ... what? at least 15 years now. It ain't ever gonna happen - which isn't to say that I don't get my ass kicked by his current releases...I personally LOVE TRC despite (or perhaps partially due to) it's hilariously heavy-handed Darth Vaderisms. And I ADORE the ONA piano album.

But saying something like "Once he'll make an album all of that hype we'll be quashed!" is as silly as PeePee9 saying "I SUHWEAR Prince has been talking up 2004!!!"



HMMM...I can't POSSIBLY imagine where someone who has followed this man's antics for the last 25 years would learn selfish and greedy behavior...

I mean, are you serious? Do you honestly think that Prince's FANS are more selfish and greedy than HE is? Wow, I didn't realize you were that far gone...but celebrity idolization will do that to ya, huh?

klaatu said:

nobody is overreacting. and i am not your "dear".

what in the sam hell are you going on about??? this isn't about the org...wake up, you ain't payin attention.

shouldn't be a subject of advertisement if you're offering any for sale or trade, which g2p and smallclub.org were not doing at all. if you gonna come with it, come correct, please. don't skim the thread for shit and twist it.

the obvious: beat the bootleggers at their own game, as well as allow for people to talk about such material. talking about stuff ain't hurt nobody.

by saying this you do realize that you're adding yourself to the equation...you are a prince fan...right?

I don't think Dansa is overreacting at all, and I'd be honored to assist her in any way I am able. Just sayin'.

67TBirdHeartAttack said:

"Earth to, 67TBirdHeartAttack, Earth to, 67TBirdHeartAttack - Sorry sir, we seem to have lost contact."

Handclapsfingasnapz said:[quote]klaatu said:[quote]i guess that's a little overreacting dear.
[quote]nobody is overreacting. and i am not your "dear".

Sure thing, "not dear". i guess calling for boycott is overreacting to me.




what in the sam hell are you going on about??? this isn't about the org...wake up, you ain't payin attention.

Sorry for the confusion but my point remains valid here anyway.



shouldn't be a subject of advertisement if you're offering any for sale or trade, which g2p and smallclub.org were not doing at all. if you gonna come with it, come correct, please. don't skim the thread for shit and twist it.

I don't shit and twist i'm just saying that it is pretty easy to say talkng is not promoting. i guess you're wrong. Because talking about something can cause a willto buy or find the said stuff. This is rhetoric.



the obvious: beat the bootleggers at their own game, as well as allow for people to talk about such material. talking about stuff ain't hurt nobody.

Well see the above statement.



by saying this you do realize that you're adding yourself to the equation...you are a prince fan...right?

I am and I am selfish in my own way of course but i also undrrstand the guy. He's human not a hero like some of you like to portray. I am fan enough to understand that. Are you?

now if you'll excuse me, i have more important things to do than having a debate about it. Take care
[This message was edited Mon Jan 19 11:07:37 PST 2004 by klaatu]

Hand, I really don't think there's much we can "do." Prince makes his own decisions and cares not a whit about what even his most loyal listeners think. The fans may deserve better, but that's beside the point.

The best thing we can "do" for ourselves is to keep a proper perspective on what P does going forward and assess him by the quality of his product.