He is giving it away at the concerts, even at the movie theater showings.
What's the incentive for the average fan to buy this thing if it's being given away for free?

Daywalker77 said:

Free CD. He is trying to introduce himself to a new audience with material that he thinks is worthy. The new audience is the children of hard core fans who you would think are already familiar with him (and his older material). I got into Prince only because my mother is/was obsessed with him.

I guess I didn't really answer your question.

1st!
[This message was edited Sun Mar 7 12:03:22 2004 by MrWhatever]

Is it the actual album or the single?

Maybe its a plan to promote the NPGMC. I am not so sure if he is interested in getting his music played on the radio as much as he is trying to get people to join the club. To be a commerical success his music needs to get some air time, make appearances on shows and try to spark up some controversy by showing his right nipple on national television.

It's certainly a new and brave idea to give your new album away to everyone who attends the
concerts. I'm not sure that it's a good idea from a business point of view, or in regard to getting
the album high into the charts. But Prince is obviously more interested in getting the music into
peoples hands than topping the charts, so in that respect it will be a great success!

EvilWhiteMale said:

It was my understanding that it is the whole album, I could be wrong though.

EvilWhiteMale said:

It's been clearly stated by the mods at npgmc.com that it's the full album being given away at concerts and theaters, not a single.

Daywalker77 said:

I think so, too!!

when
he
hires a
much
needed
business
manager

"Music" comes b4 the "ology". You see it all makes sense, the music is far more important to prince than the business! so come to the show and see real live music and in the mean time get a free cd. makes perfect sense - prince can make more money form touring than sales of albums. He's making a statement that cds are nothing without the MUSIC! The big records companies should not be able to have such a strangle hold on the MUSIC. So give it away for free.

Rayray17 said:

Agreed. Except for the nipple bit.

From my perspective it's cool if he's giving away a free cd - though no doubt i'll have to buy it first because he won't be coming to the UK for ages after the cd comes out.

But to be commercial success, he needs AIRPLAY. And he's only going to get that with a catchy tune. Funky as musicology (single) may be, and pretty as reflection may be, i'd put money on them being totally ignored by radio. But i may be wrong.

I'd like to think that this is taste of things to come for the rest of the year.

Perhaps:
The anniversary DVD of Purple Rain
The other movies to DVD for the first time
Possible re-mastered Purple Rain album
Possible release of the rest of his catalog, remastered

If even a couple of the above statments are true, then he really can't loose with musicology, right?

I only think this because he's been quiet for a pretty long time, and from what he has said was that 2004 is going to be a BIG year.

If that does come true, 2004 will also be VERY expensive for the hard-core fans. You know we just got to buy EVERYTHING. (better start applying for that weekend job if ya wanna keep up!)


Note:
I'm no authority on what prince is to release this year. The above is just a broad statement of related posts made here on the org over the last few months.


...
[This message was edited Mon Mar 8 8:47:58 2004 by yamomma]

As far as airplay goes, that is up to how much record companies want to pay for it to be played. They would like you to believe that radio playlist is by listener request, and that maybe true if the listener only has a handful of current songs to choose from. I really doubt quality is much of a factor in today's music. That seems to be evident everytime I turn on the radio.

If the execs at (insert record company here) think they will get a heafty return, they will pay clearchannel to play their song.

THEN, if the execs at clearchannel get paid enough, ANY song will get pleanty of rotation. It's the amount of money rotation that determines the amount of song rotation.

That's the real world of radio.
(And yes, I consider myself an authority of that statment.)

That would make GREAT sense to me of why Prince is asking all record companies to release it at once. That way, not one company is taking a bigger risk in its success. (or failure) This way everyone pitched in and "whatever song" gets equal amount of radio play within the above formula.

Who says Prince is "giving" away anything? I don't know about where you are but a movie ticket costs about $8 where I am. Prince/ Theater owners are asking for $15 to view the concert on the big screen. Seems to me like there's a significant markup that covers the cost and profit for "giving" away the cd. This same logic could also be applied to the cd being "given" away at the concerts as well.

Ultimately without record company backing (payola) resulting in radio exposure, this album will flop. Forget about having a catchy tune that people like, that really doesn't matter. Radio stations can make a hit out of any song if they beat it down our throats twice an hour 24 hours a day.

tpzlamont said:

I thought that's what I just said.

As far as the movie theatres marking up the price to view the concert, You have to understand that this is a one night only situation.They have to make sure that its worth their wild to make such a move.I have to give the theatres credit for giving the ok for such a situation.This is a no lose situation for everyone involved.The theatres, the public, and Prince. Everyone will be very happy at the end of the day. Prince doesn't need a hit nor does he want one,he just wants his music out there for the people to be able to hear. Everyone knows that he is the best live performer living today so all he has to do is keep the music coming and everything will be everything,

Prince is making bank. His ticket prices are higher than most acts so with larger arenas he ain't losing a bit by including a disc with a show. You actually buying the record.

Daywalker77 said:

The average fan? Is there such a thing? Any Prince fan who is NOT going to a screening or a concert will HAVE to buy it if they want it, won't they?

Daywalker77 said:

I'm sure, deep-down, Prince loves to be a commercial success. But from what it looks like, from what he's done since the begginning of his career...he doesn't care for commercial success. BUT, what he is doing since he's been out of the lime-light for SOOO long is getting some exposure out there. Free CDs to ppl means more ppl will talk about him...and so the networking goes. I doubt Musicology will be a big success or any other album in the future for that matter, but he's actually doing something very intelligent right now which is to care about his fans and getting some exposure out there.

More money is made from touring than CD sales, anyway. The whole idea is to get people into the shows . . .