Consider:
- Due to the tour tie-in, the CD will continue to "sell" and be on the charts for some time
- Many diehards will have multiple copies of the CD (like me), and give it to non-fans (spreading the new music)
- The entire album will be familiar to many casual fans who would see a tour but not buy new prodcuct. When a new single comes out, it will have a head start and built-in audience
- The controversy continues to generate press for the album and tour


*Seems to me he's pulled off a real coup...

the smartest thing prince ever did was learn to sing and play some instruments.

Well DUH...

I guess I'm thinking, in the past 10 years.

He was singing and playing instruments then, but not many people seemed to care

B-Sides us!

Definitely a smart move on his part...but a smarter move would have been to release a sampler CD that he could have given at concerts with a couple of songs from Musicology, TRC, ONA, a couple of songs from his internet-only songs and a track from NEWS!! That would help the sale of the other albums including more interest for his internet-only songs!!

No, dumpin Larry was the smartest thing hes EVER done.

DK47 said:

I didn't know he dumped him...when did this happen??

DK47 said:

dream on...have another listen to that rock'n'roll hall of fame acceptance speech...

It is certainly one of his smarter moves, that's for sure. I think a little luck was involved, too. He took a chance and it appears to be paying off. Now other acts will copy it and just you watch- it will have a greatly diminished impact next time he tries to do it.

rainbowchild said:

Interesting suggestions: back in 1997, I think, Prince suggested in interview that he might well promote his next album either by leaving a sampler of the album on each seat during the tour, or incorporating the cost / price in the ticket price for each concert, so each concert attendee received the new album.
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