Prince promotion: giving away his next CD for free; draws criticism. - The Orange Mane

Taco John · 06-29-2007, 02:12 AM

This is really cool...

Music industry attacks Sunday newspaper's free Prince CD

Katie Allen, media business correspondent
Friday June 29, 2007
The Guardian

The eagerly awaited new album by Prince is being launched as a free CD with a national Sunday newspaper in a move that has drawn widespread criticism from music retailers.
The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that the 10-track Planet Earth CD will be available with an "imminent" edition, making it the first place in the world to get the album. Planet Earth will go on sale on July 24.

"It's all about giving music for the masses and he believes in spreading the music he produces to as many people as possible," said Mail on Sunday managing director Stephen Miron. "This is the biggest innovation in newspaper promotions in recent times."

The paper, which sells more than 2m copies a week, will be ramping up its print run in anticipation of a huge spike in circulation but would not reveal how much the deal with Prince would cost.
One music store executive described the plan as "madness" while others said it was a huge insult to an industry battling fierce competition from supermarkets and online stores. Prince's label has cut its ties with the album in the UK to try to appease music stores.

The Entertainment Retailers Association said the giveaway "beggars belief". "It would be an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career," ERA co-chairman Paul Quirk told a music conference. "It would be yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music.

"The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday."

High street music giant HMV was similarly scathing about the plans. Speaking before rumours of a giveaway were confirmed, HMV chief executive Simon Fox said: "I think it would be absolutely nuts. I can't believe the music industry would do it to itself. I simply can't believe it would happen; it would be absolute madness."

Prince, whose Purple Rain sold more than 11m copies, also plans to give away a free copy of his latest album with tickets for his forthcoming concerts in London. The singer had signed a global deal for the promotion and distribution of Planet Earth in partnership with Columbia Records, a division of music company Sony BMG. A spokesman for the group said last night that the UK arm of Sony BMG had withdrawn from Prince's global deal and would not distribute the album to UK stores.

http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2114557,00.html

TDmvp · 06-29-2007, 02:16 AM

dearly beloved "beloved" we are gathered here today to download your cd
......................."echo"

BigPlayShay · 06-29-2007, 02:21 AM

He'll probably make more money off this newspaper deal than a new artist gets off a high selling album.

Meck77 · 06-29-2007, 02:22 AM

The more you give...The more you get.....

Los Broncos · 06-29-2007, 02:26 AM

This is nice, giving away free music. Maybe some day ill get a chance to do something nice for someone.

Eli_Cash · 06-29-2007, 03:10 AM

I'm bored with this.

Anyone want to play basketball?

06-29-2007, 02:12 AM	#1
Taco John 24/7 Broncos In Elway I Trust Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 49,697 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Manning	Prince promotion: giving away his next CD for free; draws criticism. This is really cool... Music industry attacks Sunday newspaper's free Prince CD Katie Allen, media business correspondent Friday June 29, 2007 The Guardian The eagerly awaited new album by Prince is being launched as a free CD with a national Sunday newspaper in a move that has drawn widespread criticism from music retailers. The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that the 10-track Planet Earth CD will be available with an "imminent" edition, making it the first place in the world to get the album. Planet Earth will go on sale on July 24. "It's all about giving music for the masses and he believes in spreading the music he produces to as many people as possible," said Mail on Sunday managing director Stephen Miron. "This is the biggest innovation in newspaper promotions in recent times." The paper, which sells more than 2m copies a week, will be ramping up its print run in anticipation of a huge spike in circulation but would not reveal how much the deal with Prince would cost. One music store executive described the plan as "madness" while others said it was a huge insult to an industry battling fierce competition from supermarkets and online stores. Prince's label has cut its ties with the album in the UK to try to appease music stores. The Entertainment Retailers Association said the giveaway "beggars belief". "It would be an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career," ERA co-chairman Paul Quirk told a music conference. "It would be yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music. "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday." High street music giant HMV was similarly scathing about the plans. Speaking before rumours of a giveaway were confirmed, HMV chief executive Simon Fox said: "I think it would be absolutely nuts. I can't believe the music industry would do it to itself. I simply can't believe it would happen; it would be absolute madness." Prince, whose Purple Rain sold more than 11m copies, also plans to give away a free copy of his latest album with tickets for his forthcoming concerts in London. The singer had signed a global deal for the promotion and distribution of Planet Earth in partnership with Columbia Records, a division of music company Sony BMG. A spokesman for the group said last night that the UK arm of Sony BMG had withdrawn from Prince's global deal and would not distribute the album to UK stores. http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2114557,00.html

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06-29-2007, 02:16 AM	#2
TDmvp Ring of Famer Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 8,049	dearly beloved "beloved" we are gathered here today to download your cd ......................."echo"

06-29-2007, 02:21 AM	#3
BigPlayShay Ring of Famer Novaking Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,236 Adopt-a-Bronco: Got Cut	He'll probably make more money off this newspaper deal than a new artist gets off a high selling album.

06-29-2007, 02:22 AM	#4
Meck77 Ring of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 16,308	The more you give...The more you get.....

06-29-2007, 02:26 AM	#5
Los Broncos Ring of farmers Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Anaheim Hills, Santa Ana Mountains CA Posts: 18,766 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ryan Clady	This is nice, giving away free music. Maybe some day ill get a chance to do something nice for someone.

06-29-2007, 03:10 AM	#6
Eli_Cash Deep Circus Boognish Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bristol, CT Posts: 206	I'm bored with this. Anyone want to play basketball?