O.K., we STILL don't know if the CD's given away at the concert will count towards record sales. I still say that giving the CD away is a HUGE mistake. People who want the CD could just ask their friends who went to the show to burn a copy.

Anyone else think that this marketing idea was a mistake?

[Note: I understand what P is trying to do on an artistic level; that is, allow people access to the music. But, if he cares about commercial and/or chart success, and I THINK he does in fact care, then I think it's a mistake.]

Nah, beats having to go to HMV and "buying" it.

No I love the idea that he gave it away at the concerts. He is not really concerned about record sales at this point I mean really do you think he is?

Plus most of the fans are going to buy it anyway, and we have all been good enough for him during these "lean" years so

it'll be fine, watch and see....

butterfli25 said:

Based on several statements he has made, [for instance how he'll know Norah Jones off the top of the list], I do think he cares, albeit somewhat, about how well he does on the charts. I just don't believe that he doesn't care at all. Why would he turn around and do a "pop" album, such as he refers to Musicology?

it counts. they're acting like the cd is part of the ticket price, therefore its a sale. plus, with soundscan being the piece of shit that it is, he could probably count the cds if he threw them out his limo window at 88 mph!

Not at all...if you listen to the lyrics to Life O' the Party, he sings about giving away CDs...and he's doing exactly just that!!!!! F***ing awesome!!!!

He wants people to hear his music and enjoy it.
I look at it like this. I design clothes. If I come up with something thats really cute and I think alot of people would like it, I would give it away
(or lower the price )
[This message was edited Thu Apr 22 13:13:02 2004 by CRYSTALBALL]

butterfli25 said:

He would LOVE to be number 1. Of course he is concerned about record sales, he is a business man.

they included the price of the cd ($9.99 i believe) in the ticket price. so for every ticket, that's a cd sale also. he's selling out everywhere, i think that's pretty damn smart!

they're making it seem like he doesnt care about sales and giving it away to loyal fans. that cd is payed for, collect it on the way out/in
[This message was edited Thu Apr 22 13:44:58 2004 by Scrapluv]

No mistake at all. For those of us in the Uk etc...it will be a while until we can get the cd from the concert, so in the mean time we go and buy the album. Then when we see him we get another copy, which we have paid for in the ticket prices. All my mates who will attend the concerts (mainly for the hits) will have also brought a copy by paying the high price for their tickets. This means that prince is selling to the fans and joe public. I can't see musicology selling well enough to outsell Norah Jones without the concert ploy....
And surely no one truely belives that the album is "free". You never get something for nothing. If he wasn't bothered about sales then he wouldn't be doing so much promotion and he would release the album, relying purely on record store sales. The give away is an obvious attempt to make it higher in the charts.

Scrapluv said:

So everyone in the UK is going to end up with two bloody copies. One they (well, I) bought in HMV and one that we have to pick up at the show because we have already shelled out for that one too.

I kind of wish he HADN'T incorporated the cd price into the ticket price, so that people who would rather have the commercial sale version or are attending multiple shows could have the option to buy a ticket for a little cheaper. These people don't really need the extra album copies. Maybe their could have been a marking on the ticket or something that you show someone to get your free copy at the show if you paid for it...just an idea that it's clearly too late for. Oh well.

Keith/Kacey

SleezyG said:

Throwin' wreckids out da windah....
CDs out da do'...
Might as well give 'em to tha milkman
Cuz we don' want 'em no mo'...

Since my wife and I are going to the Raleigh show tomorrow night, I think it's a great idea!
Seriously, when I found out about the free CD, I thought it was a cool gesture on Prince's part.

SleezyG said:

"if he threw them out of his limo window at 88 mph!"

OK now that was funny as hell!

glad you liked it


and as for prince saying he'd give away cds, since when has that motherfucker given away anything of value?