Now that would be something. As the official website says "find out march 29th". I know that it´s the start of the tour. But maybe the album will be released on the same day (at least as a download for NPGMC members)?

Yes, I think that the Musicology section of the NPGMC will open on that day, and you will be
able to download all the tracks from the album and purchase the actual CD via the retail section
as well (I think it's highly unlikely, however, that it will be available in stores on that date).

Nightcrawler said:

Well he's supposedly said he'd like to give out a free copy of the album to everyone who buys a concert ticket - so that would mean the album would have to be out on that first day of the tour!

But I don't really see him going through with that idea. Either it'd be a financial disaster or they'd hike the price of tickets up to compensate! "Yeah, you get a free album... but the ticket price has gone up £20... errrmm....cos of.... some costs...."

He shouldn't really say things like that if he isn't going to go through with it... people will be disappointed now if they don't get the free album.

metalorange said:

The manufacturing costs of the CD are about two or three dollars. Retail prices include logistical and promotional costs,
as well as labour and profit through various chains. It certainly is a marketable idea, and it will come in handy in an advertising campaign.

It has got me thinking whether or not those 'free' copies are denoted as actual 'sales', as it might be a way to buy this album into the charts.
Haven't seen this suggestion elsewhere, so it probably won't work, but if it does, he's going to buy his commercial success.
Remember 'The most beautiful girl in the world' and the free hand-out singles some years later?

Well in a word..... kinda..... Musicology is going to apparently be given away to either just club members or everyone that attends the concerts for free. Thus, the first tour date which is March 29, Musicology will be released..... at least to the 10,000 lucky folks that enter the doors that night.

I also stated in an earlier post, that that was likely to be the date that the Musicology section opens at the club... should be a VERY interesting day... let's call it SUPERTUESDAY!!!

kendogg said:

Well, like with "One Nite Alone" european fans maybe soon will have 3 "Musicology" copies: The download from NPGMC, one copy bought at a shop or in the retail-section of NPGMC and later one copy for free when we go to the concert.

Even if u buy one, and u get a free one at a concert, the most natural thing to do is give a copy to a friend that doesn't have one, I think it's smart in that sense that it will make Prince's audience larger through a "word of mouth" style of marketing. Also this way, it's controled by him in the sense that this may eliminate P2P sharing of songs, he still gets a cut by incorporating that CD cost into the ticket.

kendogg said:

I don't want to burst any bubbles, but.....If this is a direct quote, then I can't see anyone getting in the concert for Free. Thereby no-one gets the album for Free.