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 2:59:28 2004 by July]

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

July said:[quote]From Reuters: Former corporate 'slave' Prince signs with Sony

www.reuters.com

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 Tue Mar 23 21:43:42 2004 by July]


First tour in 6 yrs., he just did the ONA Tour 2 yrs. ago!! They need to get their facts straight!!

I was just going to say how sick I was of seeing this 'first tour in 6 years' crap in every article on Prince as of late.

eldog98 said:[quote]

July said:

That is from the original press release for the tour.

Purpleone4Eva said:

They mean full arenas. Not just theaters like ONA. Which was a smaller scale tour actually.

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.

July said:

It's his first major tour in six years. Since the 1997 Jam Of The Year tour.