about this whole musicology being released on several record labels idea, i wanna see what ya'll think:

a) do you think that he'll be successful in this latest endeavour of his? why or why not?

b) also, do ya think that most labels will take p's album under their wing and release it through their channels?

me, i see it as a pretty damned ambitious idea (i know, he's always been one ambitious mofo ) and am curious to see if it'll all go through or not....

i don't really get it.

Is he saying, look - all of you "beancounters" can chip in and pay for distribution, production and promotion etc, and then together with me, we'll all split the profits?

They'd have to be pretty sure it was going to be a big hit before they'd agree, wouldn't they?

And get over being called "beancounters".

I really don't know how this is supposed to work...

How many majors should join in on that?
Aren't they going to take away each other's profit?
But then again of coures their expenses would be shared, too.
And who's doing the promotion plan?
They would have to agree somehow, or let one take the wheel and stear.

I guess if Prince insists on this plan until the last minute, we will have to wait sometime for the album.

calldapplwondery83 said:

that's exactly it--it'll be pretty hairy if he does this, for all the above reasons (and probably a few more). it'd be just totally....confusing, y'know.

calldapplwondery83 said:

In that Prince owns the album, he can relase it today if he wants to. I dont see where we have to wait any longer than Prince wasnts us to

NPGLOVER said:

i think the point being made lies in, "if Prince insists on this plan until the last minute", not in who owns the album.

he would have 2 have a really commercially successful LP do pull this off.
example;
say there are 5 record companies doing the distributing and commercial and stuff
if p sells 6 million records (fat chance methinks) the record companies each only get profit from a million records (assuming its equal share of the "pie" and prince gets his slice)
i don't think there are many companies out there willing to take that risk

it seems to me to make good sense. if several labels support the project then several labels will be promoting it. the more they promote it the more it will sell. the more it sells, the more each label's profit share would be. its kind of like this...in my mind...if only one label supports it, it will get less promotion and thus sell less copies creatingless revenue for that label. but, on the other hand, if three or four labels support the record then costs will be minimal to each label and, with all the extra promotions, sales will be maximized. a major label stands to make more money with this project doing that way than handling it solo. its the same concept behind p performing in large venues for cheaper prices rather than small venues for high prices. its the X factor of marketing.

well, although i'd really like to see this work for him i don't think it will. im guessing that most labels will have a problem sharing the publishing rights with other labels for obvious reasons - it will complicate releases, royalties payments, etc. also, why on earth would he want to do this to himself? he's opening the door to potentially huge and complicated problems. i'm thinking this is an idea he sort of 'came up with' without really looking into the feasibility of the thing. . . .

also, i think a lot of labels may have a kind of wary feeling toward working with him due to his tendency to attack the people he's worked with in the past when things don't go the way he wants them to (i.e. warner brothers, clive davis )

then again who knows? i think prince might have a chance at working out a deal with a numnber of companies for distributing the album after it's been cut and dried

My take is that most for-profit companies aren't much interested in sharing responsibilities with their competitors when they feel they could handle a project turn key. Why would two or more labels agree to share distribution, share promotion, and share profits when, in their minds, they are perfectly capable of handling distribution and promotion on their own? For two or more labels to work hand-in-hand, the carrot at the end of the stick would have to be pretty large and juicy, and I don't know if Prince has that to offer in a deal that involves a single album. I'm sure many labels are interested and consider Prince to be a massively talented artist. Whether or not they think the album is marketable will be the key.

I would wager to guess that making a statement about possibly letting multiple labels share in the deal is more of an attempt to up the ante to get the best deal for Prince with whatever label he ends up with. Almost like shopping for a car -- if you're smart, you let multiple dealers know that they've got a shot at making the deal, with hopes that you end up with the best deal you can get from a single "winning" dealer.

I certainly hope the album is successful, and I think it will be his biggest success in years with the support of a tour that includes his more popular songs. Sure would love to hear a clip of Musicology, though -- being a music club member and following the man's every move for two decades isn't enough to get me a listen, so I know the general public hasn't a clue about any of this yet.

The optimistic side of a profit-sharing, joint deal is very clear. But, here are a few detractors:


1) It's a bit "pie in the sky," and doesn't really factor in individual labels' bottom-line obsessions. How many CEOs or CFOs would agree to such a deal? And, greedy record companies would hate to create a precedent like this -- too much room for failure. And, P doesn't have the best track record with companies, not exactly what you might call a "team player." He might have too much bad blood in the industry.

2) Such a plan would be feasible if Prince had some real, recent success on which to pin this plan. But, he hasn't had it. Most people (non-fans) would be hard-pressed to name a recent song of his, let alone a hit. But, he's no Timberlake or Missy or Britney, artists who might have a better shot at such a plan.

So, no, I don't see it working.

We seeeee youuuu, Dansa!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I think it will be successfull.Prince is very smart & he knows how to work the record companys.People want to see prince!.He the most exsited proformer ever!..Bar None.

Most of the record labels he goes to will promote his album,If not all,Because of his past success.They want there peice of the pie to,Ever thuo they were not in the recording studio...LoL.All The record labels see it Cha-Ching Dollor signs In there eyes with prince comeing aboard.

MRDREAMFACTORY said:

quite the contrary--if he knew how to work the record labels, he'd still be on the scene and not doin this underground-ish tip like he has been for a while. 'sides, how many folks outside the prince fan community have you heard saying stuff like, "omg, i wanna see prince so bad!" not a whole lot, right? most likely next to nil.


mmmm, not really...from what i see it seems sorta like prince has somewhat of a 'scarlet letter'-thing goin with 'im, record label-wise. he ain't the easiest to deal with, y'know.

it's nice to be optimistic but you still gotta see what's really goin on as well.

Can you imagine the title line on MTV, VH1 or Bet???

Prince
"Musicology"
Musicology
Arista/J/RCA/BMG/Columbia/Epic/Sony/Elektra/Warner Bros./Capitol/Virgin/EMI/Geffen/Interscope/Motown/Island Def Jam/Universal
Director: Prince

okaypimpn said:

I'm sorry ya'll, but I think this is Prince's round-a-bout way of saying he's looking for whoever will make the best deal.

Well...

I don't think its that ridiculous if he means different record companies manufacturing and distributing in different international territories. Its not uncommon actually.

Its like the acts on XL Records in the U.K. The Prodigy release their British singles through the label's own manufacturing and distribution, but in America the manufacture and distribution is by Maverick Records (owned by Warners). Another XL act, The White Stripes uses V2 Records to manufacture and distribute in the States.

So in theory, if both The Prodigy and White Stripes have competing albums in U.S. stores on different labels, XL Records is still making money if The Prodigy album outsells the White Stripes (or vice-versa).

Now, if he does mean differing labels manufacturing and distributing within the same territory, do you know what would happen? Most of us die-hards would purchase the BMG release of Musicology, the EMI release of Musicology, the WB release of Musicology (and so on), just for the sake of completion.

If only 500,000 fans around the world purchase (say) 12 different copies of the album, he's sold 6,000,000 albums instead of 500,000.

I think that the crazy bastard might just pull it off and the majors may just go for this. Record companies will lessen their initial outlay because instead of having to manufacture a million copies of the album (and then have them gather dust in bargain bins), they only have to make a few thousand each! Its genius, really!

If you say so BinaryJustin. I'm just having flashbacks of the "I'm having a spiritual rebirth in which I can no longer be called by Prince. From now on I'll go by " Then it all turned out to be a contract dispute.

I hope he can break new ground w/ music distribution. POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Mmmmmm maybe he'll start doing all the things ani di franco has been doing 4 years and that she has told him to do!

I found a little article from .... an Australian website about a multiple record contract. I'm glad there are some non-Orgers discussing this as well.


http://www.undercover.com...rince.html

I don't know how successful the record will be, but the tour should do great. Prince is a truly unique talent, and the joy he brings to his live shows is almost non existent these days.
As far as the record companies go, they aren't the same beast they once were. With more and more people getting their music online and more and more record stores closing down, the record companies will continue to merge until there's just one huge conglomerate. So it doesn't make sense for Prince to be tied down to just one, when in a couple of years it will merge or be bought out by another one.
Personally, I don't get too caught up in the numbers game. How many hits or millions of records sold looks good on a press release, but, to me, Prince seems happier now than ever before. He hasn't had a hit in years and his record sales are minimal. Yet after 25 years of making and performing music, he's one of the freshest things out there. Freedom must be a very good thing, indeed.

We do all know how records are released, right?

I think Prince was kidding when he said that. Mainly, to throw the people off the sent of the Warner's rumor.

SassierBritches said:

please. stop. smoking. crack.

yeah, why don't Coke and Pepsi just work together and share the profits two ways..... YEAH, WHAT IS NIKE THINKING... THEY SHOULD JUST JOIN UP WITH ADIDIAS...

you've just solved capitalism. genius.

can everyone stop debating the 'great visionary' idea that Prince has just pulled out his ass.

IT IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

RECORD COMPANIES ARE NOT LIKE FOR LIKE behind the scenes. Royalties, manufacturing, recording, promotion are all paid for / offset against various other investments. Even if they wanted to this could NEVER work.

and they WOULDN'T WANT TO ANYWAY.

as someone pointed out before, it's just Prince making a load of noise as he hasn't been given the deal he wants (and we know how he like to the best of all worlds). You can sign for different territioris with different labels, but that's rare and only viable in niche markets which have specialist record companies. Prince is not specialist. Although his sales are in keeping with niche markets (this isn't meant as a diss).

you've got to look at it this way. They are getting the Prince of now (whatever that means), they are NOT GETTING PURPLE RAIN, SIGN O THE TIMES, ETC..... so it makes fuck all difference if it's the 20th anniversary of Purple Rain - unless you are warners. Plus he's going out on a GH tour. cool for us. But if you're SONY, your paying for PRince to go out on the road and play the WB hits..... which will see a sales boots as high, if not higher than the 'new SONY' release.

strange deal.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I think you have misinterpreted his comments:

He's claiming to be courted by EVERY label, and the one who can offer him the most support for "Musicology", that's who he'll sign with.

LIKE: Derek Jeter was a free agent, telling the press all teams are fighting for his services so the TRUE interested teams will sweat & sweeten the deal.

OR: maybe it's a lie, like the sales total of "Crystal Ball", which no one can verify, and makes him look good.

Anyways, can you really see SONY, WARNERS, and JIVE Records splitting the pie over "Musicology"? It would have to be the GREATEST ALBUM EVER and the SUREST THING EVER, which it most certainly isn't. It may in fact be "Rave un2 the Joy Fantastic Part ll"

warning2all said:

I got a feeling its some good stuff.. but nothing to go number one.

Sdldawn said:

I hope you're right!
I think "Rainbow Children"/"One Nite Alone Live"/"News" is the strongest streak of albums since "Parade"/"Sign"/"Lovesexy". I think this is his tightest, all-around most talented band to date. The ingredients are there if he allows for natural progression of the last 3 years, not,"Now I will construct a hit record"-that's what became "Rave".

My

1. IF this multiple label proposal is true, it's not something he just pulled out of his ass. Trust me, I can guarantee that Prince has his lawyers dissecting any proposal he makes to a record company before its made.

2. That said, personally, I'd be absolutely shocked if such a proposal succeeded.

one way or the other i wish him the best. it'll be interesting to see if it works ou for him