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May 20, 2004


'Musicology' strategy has industry buzzing

By Tamara Conniff
Prince's idea to include his new CD "Musicology" as part of his concert ticket price may be the beginning of a music industry revolution.

Since the album's release April 20, "Musicology" CDs handed out at shows have been included in SoundScan numbers. In the album's first week of release, of the 191,275 copies sold, only 12,605 were from ticket sales. In total, the tour has about 40 shows in arenas with capacities of 17,000-20,000. Prince's manager-attorney Londell McMillan says Prince will play and give out CDs to as many as 1.5 million fans during the tour.

"We're actually hoping that it spurs retail growth," McMillan says. "There is a good 230 million people out there, some of which will hear that Prince has a great CD, (and) they'll see a show and tell a friend. That's the kind of buzz we're trying to create."

To date, the concert CDs have not cannibalized retail sales. Between retail and concert CDs, the album has scanned more than 582,000 copies. Which has been quite a relief for Sony Music's Columbia Records, which through its distribution deal with Prince only get a cut from the retail sales, not the concert giveaways. However, Columbia also didn't have to give Prince an advance on sales.

Many music executives are watching the "Musicology" phenomenon closely. Selling CDs as part of ticket sales -- or at least an optional part of ticket sales -- might be a new business model for getting music into the hands of fans. With so many traditional record retail chains closing their doors because of the plummeting record-sale business, concert sales might be the answer.

"It's getting the music in people's hands," AEG Live president and CEO Randy Phillips says. "I think the more established acts that are proven hard ticket sellers may be looking for new ways to get the music to their fans besides the traditional channels. The model of delivering music to the consumer is morphing as we speak. Prince is trying his thing; there may be other ways of making music accessible to the consumer through live touring."

Prince will bring his "Musicology" tour back to Los Angeles next week at Staples Center. He opened at Staples on March 29 and is set to play four additional shows, becoming the first artist to play five shows at Staples on the same tour.

Brenda Tinnen, senior vp events and guest services at AEG Facilities and Staples Center, says no CDs were left behind after the March 29 show.

"There was a lot of publicity behind that, so a lot of people were aware of the fact that they were going to get a CD and loved it," Tinnen says. "Then there were a lot of people that came in and were completely taken by surprise. You could hear a lot of, 'Oh wow, this is his new CD.' I have to say (that) during cleanup, there were none on the floor."

AEG Live nabbed the Prince tour because it could deliver on his wish to have the CDs distributed at venues. The March 29 tour kickoff also was broadcast live in Regal Theatres (CDs also were handed out at this event as part of the $15 ticket price).

"It was logistics, and that's one of the reasons why we got the tour," Phillips says. "Everyone else told him you can't do this, you can't do that. When we work for an act, there's no such thing as 'no.' It's wasn't that hard to get done. It just takes a little extra work."

Well... I guess this just about answers everyone's questions and settles the argument that Musicology is in fact selling in retail regardless of being "given" away at concerts. That's great news.

Londell McMilliam is a bad ass. In addition to getting Prince out of his WB contract, he represents Spike Lee, Steive, Wesley Snipes, D. Angelo, and Biggie. I think he is currently representing Biggie in an action against the LAPD. He also owns one of the top 10 minority owned law firms in New York. Prince is in good hands.

Did you read the thing about prince giving away 1.5million CD at concerts

When the concert kicked off on march 31 they only had estimated 400k
ppl goin to see the concert.

Having added more dates and from the numers i think it was gonna be
900k ppl

look like they r goin to add more dates in smaller cities and
also give away on european leg of the tour

TOTAL OF 1.5MILLION PPL R GOIN FOR THE CONCERT

ONLY PURPLE RAIN DID CLOSE TO 1.7MILLION PPL

INCREDIBLE

What a coup! Who expected this - really?

Well, Mr. Prince, you finally got just what it was that you were fighting for in the 90s - freedom to do with your music as you see fit. It seems that you have turned the tables and put yourself in control of the music, just as you wished - GOOD FOR YOU!

This will definitely be the start of a revolution in the recording industry, and will put the majority of control in the hands of the artists - WHICH IS WHERE CONTROL OF THE ART SHOULD BE!

He's got to be making a killing at this, too! Well, it's well deserved. And it shows no sign of stopping.

I'm a writer, and when I did a book reading for Spoken As Truth, an anthology that I released in February, like Prince, I retain ownership of my masters, and always will. Anywho, the end result was that I got what I wanted - to retain control, and ALL the money made from the sale of this anthology stayed in my hands, again, where it belongs. And I made a killing!

I think this really is the next direction for the music industry. O happy day.

Eric Franklin Crow
Author, Spoken As Truth, 2004

poetbear68 said:

When isn't Prince thinking "outside the box". He is always striving to do what others say he can't. He is a true musical genius and revolutionary. Look who's laughing now. Prince crazy... naw, just years ahead of his time.

poetbear68 said:

CO-SIGN. Sales are at 581k and that's not counting what people downloaded.

About time the boy had a brain in his head. He did take the biggest chance with this. I'd say it was a fluke.

I am so happy this strategy is working for Prince. That's what it's all about. He went through a rigid period during the 90, but sometimes you have to go do some dire strait times to get to the place that he is right now. Now things are going great and why would there be any CD's on the floor when it was time to clean up. Whether it was free or not, a lousy CD or a good one, I ain't fend to throw no CD on the floor for nothin', even if I didn't like it, I could always give it to someone who does.

TurnItUp said:

Prince has an expression for this: "The ride up front is better when U've been in the back
That's a fact" from Now... created during that rigid period....

2freaky4church1 said:

Just bowdown and admit that P knows what he's doing.School's in fool so learn something and stay off that crack!

wyld1 said:

Double co-sign. P is doin the damn thang and some people on the ORG can't handle it bcuz they've been talkin shit 4 the longest. People are going 2 the stores and buying Musicology and by the time the year is out the cd might top 2.5 million in the states alone. And thats not counting the downloads.

Das my baby

2freaky4church1 said:

Ahhhh, fluke you!

shit...I have the retail cd and two concert cd's...and will get a third....


Prince needs to send me a check.

Prince: A genius in every sense of the word. And for all the haters out there: Kiss Prince's ass, HA HA HA!

Rhondab said:

we should start a competition , "who own the most copies of Musicology" , this will include
free copies at concerts , official copies purchased at wreckastows and the download from the NPGMC. I'll start the ball rolling as I'm in the Uk where the tour hasnt hit yet and I didnt buy the download , so I only own one copy bought officially , anyone wanna go for owning 2 or more copies ?
[This message was edited Fri May 21 10:54:01 2004 by moonshine]

I know it´s kind of off topic, but I wanna know.....besides the horns, are there other musicians playing on the album? I read the reviews saying Musicology (the album) was performed by Prince, but I was curious if other musicians played. I only know Candy sung on ´Life O The Party´
Musicology will be released here next week, but I am very curious to know it
Thanks in advance

poetbear68 said:

in another way, Prince is a musical innovator...a genius! He knows what the deal is & plays his cards right!!! You go boy!!!
[This message was edited Fri May 21 17:47:39 2004 by Starmist7]