So we all know P is absolutely banking the $$$ right now. And he is playing every show he can. I know he wants to be on top again...but he seems a little bit more intent than usual.

Has he mentioned any plans of what he might do at all? Like he's using this money to buy back his masters (can he buy back his masters)? Or to fund future efforts/releases

superspaceboy said:

He can try to buy back his masters but he's got to make an offer that the rights holder would be willing to accept.

Either that, or he can attempt to allege that the agreement by which the rights are currently held is in some way void and that the masters should revert back to him

It was suggested last year that the appeal from Paisley Park to people to send examples of specific singles issued by Warners to an address in the US was part of a plan to build evidence of action by Warners which was possibly in breach of their contract with Prince. It is possible that Prince could use such 'evidence' as a bargaining tool for renegotiation.

Paisley Park / NPGMC also said that they would keep people informed with what was going in with this request - but there has been no further news as far as I am aware.
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langebleu said:

I thought he was requesting boots from the fans but for very different reasons...was this a different request?

superspaceboy said:

July, 2003:

The request came under a 'Ways Of The Pharaoh' email to NPGMC members for specific material, with a request at the end additionally for miscellaneous unnamed bootlegs.

The precise reason for requesting the material was not given in the email / notice.

However, the appeal stated:

"We need ur help. The NPG is looking 4 anything with a WB logo that was UNOFFICIALLY released during Prince's tenure at that label."

Here is a thread with the text from the original email.

http://www.prince.org/msg/13/56088

If you are an NPGMC member, you can see the webpage request and material here:

http://www.npgmusicclub.c...index.html

Subsequently, a 'clarification' was provided in the 'UTellUs' section of the official website by the moderator, PP9. The details are provided at the beginning of this thread:

http://www.prince.org/msg/13/56212

The reason behind the request is stated as:

"We all know that Prince is one of the most bootlegged artists of his generation and while much of this activity is tolerated, it crosses the line when Prince's 4mer record company who is entrusted 2 steward his catalogue gets in the mix.

The CAUSE emale is a simple request 2 show a Federal Court the actual truth of this age-old riff between ARTIST and LABEL." (Bold added here to highlight the relevant text)

The implication one can draw from this is that Prince was or is planning or threatening to provide evidence in court that Warner Brothers issued material in breach of their agreement with Prince.

(Such action - or the possibility of such action - might be used as a bargaining chip to renegotiate the return of the rights to the master recordings.)

August 2003:

NPGMC issued an email thanking members for their response and promising to keep people 'updated with the case'.

The text of the email begins this thread:

http://www.prince.org/msg/13/58135

It was later reported that people who sent in material received some gifts by way of a 'thank you', as in this thread:

http://www.prince.org/msg/13/58992
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R U a professor of Prince Langue? Ur avatar suits ya.

Who the hell would send back stuff THEY BOUGHT!

Prince should get over this warner shit and the bootlegs is just part of being a big artist!

HE signed a contract, he read the TERMS OF THE CONTRACT, he got millions, then he screwed Warners over by the "Slave" shit! As soon as he re-negotiated his contract with Warners in 1992, 4 many millions of dollors,4 no legit reason, he changed his name, then blamed Warners 4 shit!

If u sign a contract saying about not owning this and not being able to do that, then u accept it!

Prince on this masters shit is possibally one of the mst annoying things by any muscian ever!
He needs (if he hasn't already, which in recent interviews, he STILL hasn't) to forget that shit and admit he was/is wrong! I don't love the way record companies work, but IN PRINCE'S CASE, he is totally wrong! Don't believe the bullshit he whines about!


Once a painting is bought at an auction, then it BELONGS to the buyer, that person paid 4 it! It is not the painters no more! The painter got paid and the buyer can do what the fuck he likes with it, u c the point?

This is a very very UN educated guess at best.

I think Warners gave quite a bit as far as:

A) Giving Prince the self produced/creative control deal.
B) The co-funding of Paisley Park studios and the label.
C) Russ Thyret and Mo Ostin sticking with him and letting him be marketed as a "Musician for everyone" instead of trying to just making him "R and B." (Which Prince requested).

I can't comment on the 1992 deal because I don't know the specs other than the media claims. 100 million, "Vice-president Title," etc.

I don't know what's inflated and what's not.

I think Prince got into bed so to speak, with Warners on so many other deals and perks, that there was no way they would give him his masters after he made deals to get all this other stuff. (Freedom to make money from "Spin Off groups, Paisley funding, movie deals, etc.)

Prince should have went to Warners after Purple Rain and said "I'd like to sign a new deal where I keep my masters or I walk to another label."

But, as it stands Prince got Paisley Park Studios together and more projects and Paisley still stands today so, that's a good thing.

I think if Prince makes quality music from this time period on since he owns his masters from the NPG recordings he has a chance to roll.

The past ten years have had a lot of different waves in terms of long lasting quality.

I'm not sure if companies are going to be clamoring with Prince to license "Exodus" tracks with Sonny singing lead on "Nineties Hot Trax" compilations.


[This message was edited Thu May 13 8:25:34 2004 by cranshaw62]

Maybe he could change his name to an unpronouncable symbol, and compare his "struggle" to bonded labour... That oughtta work!

(Sorry, did you say "get back his masters" or "wreck his career".....)

langebleu is a shining star.