Posted on 07/14/2007 7:03:10 PM PDT by finnman69
But this article is very intersting because of the implications for the entire music industry. No surprise, record companies are doomed. CD sales are way down, in fact, CDs dont really generate any many any more. It's the concerts and merchandising that make money. You will see many more artists distribute their product directly.
Prince has cut out the middlemen and reaps the profits entirely. Add acute buisnessmen to his talents.
Never undestood the appeal of the little pervert.
I wish this Pepe Le Pew looking freak would pass into history like all the other pop culture bizarros have had the decency to do.
Agree with all of your points. Saw Prince in San Francisco in May. He and his band were outstanding. And yes, direct availability is eliminating the middlemen, more victims of technological evolution/destruction/reconstruction.
Yeah, Prince may be out there, but he is without a doubt a top notch musician and one of my all time favorites.
I was never much of a fan of his either, but i will say this - Prince kicked ass at the Super Bowl, no questions asked.
He was great at the Super Bowl, now imagine that amped up even increible stage sets, and blistering performances.
When you go to his concerts the entire place is dancing.
That cat’s one mega-talent, and a savvy businessman. That’s a package the Mainstream Music Industry fears bigtime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)
[edit] Name change
In 1995, during negotiations regarding the release of Prince’s album The Gold Experience, a battle between Warner Bros. and Prince ensued, struggling over the artistic and financial control of Prince’s output. During that time, Prince only appeared in public with the word “SLAVE” written on his cheek. Prince explained his name change as follows:
The first step I have taken towards the ultimate goal of emancipation from the chains that bind me to Warner Bros. was to change my name from Prince to . Prince is the name that my Mother gave me at birth. Warner Bros. took the name, trademarked it, and used it as the main marketing tool to promote all of the music that I wrote. The company owns the name Prince and all related music marketed under Prince. I became merely a pawn used to produce more money for Warner Bros.… I was born Prince and did not want to adopt another conventional name. The only acceptable replacement for my name, and my identity, was , a symbol with no pronunciation, that is a representation of me and what my music is about. This symbol is present in my work over the years; it is a concept that has evolved from my frustration; it is who I am. It is my name.
Prince’s strategy behind the name change seems to have been to reinvent himself, going back to a smaller audience to redevelop his style. One commentator noted:
Prince started his career as a big R&B star with limited mainstream success. At that point, he left the middle of the road and headed for the ditch. In 1980, it was risky to record new wave songs with lusty lyrics that assured no radio airplay (the classic Dirty Mind), but it paid off. Critics took notice and he became an underground favorite. This paved the way for his huge success with 1999 and Purple Rain. Certainly that was the pinnacle of his career, as far as worldwide earnings and universal adulation are concerned. But by heading for the ditch again, by changing his name and experimenting with his style, by lowering his stock value and escaping his record contract, Prince has become an underground artist again. In late 1996, the first collection of Prince music since his break with Warner Bros. appeared in record stores, a sprawling three-hour extravaganza integrating great dance grooves and slow-burning ballads. Critical response has been overwhelmingly positive, and sales have been brisk despite the high price of a 3-CD set. It’s no coincidence that he titled this album Emancipation.[11]
2 sides 2 every story
One man’s gloom, another man’s glory
Sun 2 his shadow, rose 2 a thorn
Ain’t no fury like a woman scorned
Ain’t no fury like a woman scorned
No fury like a woman scorned
Accumulative worldwide sales: 86,275,000.
Midget from Minneapolis.
It was a great performance I was at the game but being a Bears fan I was more worried about the game.
I really like this guy’s style and his maverick music business sense. Kelly Clarkson is going through similar pains with Clive Davis/BMG right now that Prince did in his earlier years. Kudos to those willing to fight for their creative freedom.
That’s it. He used a symbol to get around the record company who owned his name.
I recall an interviewer who mentioned to a one hit wonder just how much money she must be making now that her record hit platinum. The artist just looked at the interviewer like he just went insane.
like a Buddy Holly in Purple........Holly in his day was allowed in the mixing studio when it was wiser to be caught with your tongue in the preacher’s daughter’s mouth.
Not only did Holly talk his way in,he changed music from that moment forward......from 2 to 4 to 6 then 8 tracks laid down and mixed was flat undoable and Holly showed em.Laid the drums, bass, lead guitar and vocals all himself.....Phil guns Specter took the reigns from there...
Prince , like Tiger , knew what and who he was from day 65.
Prince while a maturing man,probally never “worked” a day in his life.
Good job Prince.
In 25 plus years I don't remember him ever having injected himself into politics. Paisley Park once suffered some left-wing vandalism though. Some anarchists apparently objected to the company's having made contributions to the re-election campaign of then-Senator Rudy Boschwitz (Republican - MN).
Surprizing, eh?
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