PurpleJedi said:

At least freebies don't count in UK. I doubt they would count as sales in the US either.

muleFunk said:

Sad but true...

PUBLISHING and distribution.

Stax said:

Exactly.

From Reuters: Former corporate 'slave' Prince signs with Sony

http://www.reuters.com/ne...ID=4639886

Reuters, 03.23.04, 8:51 PM

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Prince, who used to complain that he was a "slave" to one former record label, has signed with Sony Corp.'s Columbia Records unit after several years as an independent artist, both parties said Tuesday.

The worldwide deal initially covers only the funk veteran's upcoming album, "Musicology," which Columbia will release in the United States April 20. The album coincides with Prince's first tour in six years, which begins March 27 in Reno, Nevada.

"I look forward to working closely with Prince as we bring Musicology to audiences across the country and throughout the world," said Don Ienner, president of Sony Music U.S.

Somewhat cryptically, Prince, 45, added in the statement: "I am really an artist and musician at heart, that's what I do. Musicology has no boundaries or formats. It is long overdue to return to the art and craft of music -- that's what this album is about. School's in session."

Prince enjoyed his greatest success with Warner Bros. Records, which signed him as a fledgling artist in 1977 and released such big sellers as "Dirty Mind" (1980), "Purple Rain" (1984) and "Sign O' The Times" (1987). At one stage, he renegotiated a lucrative contract that also made him a vice-president at the label.

But the relationship soured in the early 1990s, with Prince claiming that Warner Bros. could not keep up with his prolific output. To drive the point home, he performed with the word "Slave" scrawled across his face.

He embarked on the indie road in 1996 with a 3-CD release, "Emancipation," which he quickly followed up with more increasingly idiosyncratic albums. He returned to the major leagues for one of them, 1999's "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic," which was handled by Bertelsmann AG's Arista Records unit.

Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
[This message was edited Wed Mar 24 1:42:23 2004 by July]

It's basically just a one album deal. Distribution.

Here's more!

Prince's New CD to Be in Stores, Not Net
Tue Mar 23, 7:59 PM ET Add Entertainment - AP to My Yahoo!


By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

NEW YORK - Prince, who has released most of his music over the Internet since 1996, has struck a deal with Sony Music to put out his new album.






"Musicology" will be released by Sony's Columbia Records on April 20, according to Prince's NPG Records and Sony. The deal calls for Sony to manufacture and distribute the disc. The first single, the title track, will be released to radio on Monday.


The partnership is the latest effort by Prince to raise his profile after years of seclusion and declining popularity. In February, he kicked off the Grammys (news - web sites) by performing with Beyonce to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking film and album "Purple Rain."


Soon afterward, he announced his first arena tour in years, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week.


"I am really an artist and musician at heart, that's what I do," the 45-year-old Prince said Tuesday. "`Musicology' has no boundaries or formats. It is long overdue to return to the art and craft of music — that's what this album is about. School's in session."


He has mainly eschewed major labels since his bitter 1996 split with Warner Bros. Records. When the relationship soured, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol and wrote the word "slave" on his cheek.


Prince released an album on his own NPG Records through a distribution deal with EMI that same year, and in 1999, signed with Arista Records for a one-album deal that resulted in "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic."


But he has primarily made his music available on his Web site through his NPG Records.


Earlier this month, he announced that fans who bought a ticket to his upcoming concerts would get the album as a bonus. The tour kicks off March 29 in Los Angeles and he will revisit some of his biggest hits, including "Little Red Corvette," "Let's Go Crazy" and "Kiss."

So what cities are these simulcasts being broadcast in?

what about a CD (musicology) & DVD (musicology tour opener concert) combo release from Sony (or maybe we could order via npgmc -i don't care!) ..... that way...all that saw the concert in theatres in the states can 'buy a special 'bonus edition' to go with their free copy, (ie Prince gets paid twice!)...and all us ppl stuck outside the US...can get 2 see the concert....that way no-one loses and prince makes more $$$....what do u all think? doubt it'll happen...but if Bowie can do it and a lot of other bands r doing that now....y not prince?
at very least i'd like 2 b able 2 buy a dvd of the 'satelite' show....i kinda feel left out way down here in NZ

guitarslinger44 said:

Anywhere there's a Regal Cinema, I think.

daPrettyman said:

wrong. AC/DC was never signed to Atlantic. They were signed to an indie in OZ that liscensed the music to Atlantic. When AC/DC went to Sony. Sony was given the same deal by the origional label. so it's not a valid argument.

The chances are that the Sony version will be fuller or have added bonus disc. Record companies compete even within themselves due to different release dates and tracklisiting. If the US release something 6 weeks prior to Europe then the European release will often have more tracks or a second disc with DVD / remixes. (to get those that bought on import to re-buy their version)

This would be i viable way for Sony to make this profitable for them, while letting Prince give away his 'weaker' package at the gigs.....

NME said:

There have to be additions / changes in some respects.

Although having said that, when (assuming he does) Prince gets his ass over to Europe, we all will have bought the damn cd already. So if he goes hiking the ticket prices to include a "free" cd he knows damn well we already have, i'll be pissed. If it's along the lines of giving Rave in2 out at European concerts knowing that we all have Rave un2, then that's cool. But otherwise ebay is going to be over-frickin-run with copies.

"Super Rare Prince CD !!!" etc etc.

Romance1600 said:

"Sources say the new deal offers Columbia the possibility to work with Prince on future releases"

It says "the possibility". Seems like a lose deal for the future. Hope Prince has that same "possibility" and not an obligation to work with them again.

July said:

Nah, packaging/ manufacturing and distribution of the disc, no publishing.

Abrazo said:

Yeah. He would not give um that.

I think it is a good deal for Prince. I think he knows what he is doing.
I don't think he will give away too much control. It's a smooth deal.

I think it's a great deal for...Sony. I mean, they're surely gon make money out of this deal. They aint got to give no budget to the artist to create the album or nothing, all them gotta do is put the album out. And receive the money. And they know for sure that this album is gonna go at least Gold. Gold if there aint no hit in it, Platinum if any single makes an impact.


BTW, that release date (April 20th) is only for the US??? When will we europeans get the album?

DaIllest said:

That's the trade off. They don't get into the creative part.

Prince is paying them to get it out to the customers.
They are the albums hot plate servers.
They carry it to the table and set it down.
That is what they do. Prince is the Chef.

Tiens, tiens...

If the cd is gonna have a $18.98 price, and people going to see the live show at the movie theatres are only paying $15 AND get a free album... Well, that's like giving them £3.98 for just turning up!!! Good deal!!!

Whereas it is gonna cost us a fortune to see Prince in concert, if the price of the album given away 'for free' is in reality used to hike up the price. What if I see Prince a few times on the tour and I get the album several times? I'm paying for it over and over and will end up with a few spare copies - at least everybody will know what they're getting for Christmas!

It seems we can't come to a conclusion what 'P' in P&D deal is. Promotion? Publishing? Packaging? I'd prefer 'Promotion' because albums can fail if no one bothers to go out there and tell anyone!

I don't see this deal with Sony as a hypocritical thing from Prince - sounds like THEY have signed to HIM rather than the other way around, since he gets what he needs and they get nothing like the normal deal. I bet they are doing this at a loss in the hope of securing a proper deal with him in the future - Prince is playing them!

Bull said:

That means P gets no money up front
like with (Rave/Eman)... he takes the full risk
And he had to forfeit the exclusive rights
But half a loaf is better than...

It even made news in the UK!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...563691.stm

I can't wait to hear him on the Radio now, and I predict Sony/Columbia will do a grand job on this album - I'm thinking that Prince may get a period of mainstreamness that actually works for a while.

facedown7 said:

I don't think people want these albums again but rather the FEELING they/we had when we first heard these, and other, classic Prince albums. That's all. We want that high again!! The drug can change and the dealer should remain the same, but we want to be on another damn high!!!!

facedown7 said:

Co-sign

alexnvrmnd said:

Great answer. We don't want to relive those albums, we want to really enjoy the music!

herb4 said:

Although I doubt anyone is going to choose Princes old school muzak/funk
over todays fresh club dance trax and modern videos... its good to see him
return to the FUNK! (If the album is musically funky and not god-funked)

July said:

Nope. Prince has a long term publishing deal with Universal Music Group. P&D stands for Packaging & Distribution (that's the industry standard term for this).

Keep in mind, if Prince and Sony plan to do a full out promotional campaign for this disc, then much of the average public would buy it in the stores, completely unaware of the giveaway promotion. Also, fans who would have to wait for him to come to their town months down the line won't wait for the concert, they'll buy it in the stores. I seriously doubt that the giveaway at concerts and movie theaters is going to negatively imapct sales all that much.

facedown7 said:

- TRUE! I just hope he makes great songs. I mean, strong compositions and kick ass band work.