JeffTheAlpaca

Is he trying to copy Axl Rose and his Best Buy deal?

Doesn't this limit the sales with only one outlet carrying it?





http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdail...s-1199-bundle/

Decker

Long Road Out of Eden went seven-times Platinum and was only sold at Wal Mart. Black Ice went double Platinum at Wal Mart only. I think Chinese Democracy had other issues hurting its sales number besides its Best Buy only distribution.

That said, I don't think anyone really believes Prince gives a flying fuck if his albums sell or not.

cdollaz

I have no interest in he cd of his new discovery, but 2 Prince albums for $12 ain't bad. I'm in unless I hear they are terrible.

cdollaz

These exclusives are good for the artists. They make much more per copy sold, and the album is marketed better. AC/DC has an entire section of the store set aside for them. When is the last time that happened for any artist, much less a hard rock/metal band.

slop101

Neither do I, and I've never seen or heard her, but I bet she's smokin' hot.

JeffTheAlpaca

This is Bria Valente

She was sitting with Prince courtside during a basketball game so maybe she is his new GF.

vili

I have the feeling that Prince makes most of his money from his concerts, so album releases are more like promotional events. Of course, this time around he is not giving it away for free like he did with his previous album.

By the way, I've been wondering about this for a couple of months now: is it only me who finds the album cover strangely butchered by the way Prince's face has been made hexagonal? While the style of the cover is not to my taste, I think that it is by and large very well made, except for that glaring error with the face! It is as if some professional made the background, and then an 8-year-old with "mad fotoshop skillz" went and pasted on the lower part of his face. Bizarre.

big whoppa

I like the album cover. It has a very Earth Wind & Fire look about it. Christina Aguilera also gave Target an exclusive with her Greatest Hits album too.

nothingfails

I am in definitely. I think it'll be much better to approach this as three separate albums, which is what he's intended, packaged together, as opposed to an overlong pretentious mess like Emancipation was.

hdtv00

Prince did a deal with best buy a decade ago, he's hardly copying anyone. He is the pioneer in internet online music too from over a decade ago.

He gets up front money, and we all know he pockets basically all the money from sales unlike most artist. He makes more selling 1/4 than they do selling millions.

His last album I hated, his worst in forever if you ask me. This one like someone says at that price hell I'm in for a listen.

celmendo

I'm There!

aintnosin

That's actually true of most musical acts (at least those that tour).

macnorton

Kick ass! I am on it. His last three have been pretty damn good and I doubt this one will disappoint.

EDIT - And yes we all knew Prince only hangs with the hottest of women...and maybe men, not sure on that one.

nothingfails

This is true. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading an article around 2005 that said that Prince pocketed just as much money from Musicology's sales as he did from Purple Rain's sales.

Supermallet

A guitar-heavy album and a funky album. Can't beat that combo.

Supermallet

For anyone in the LA area, Prince will be doing shows and events TBA starting March 24th I just signed up for updates on the Lotus Flower website (Lotusflow3r.com). Hopefully I'll be able to get tickets to some of these events.

http://laist.com/2009/03/09/prince_p..._events_ha.php

gerrythedon

Prince Plans 3 L.A. Shows In One Day To Launch New Albums, Website

Prince has a busy schedule next week. Along with performing three nights in a row (March 25-27) on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," the Purple One is scheduled to play three back-to-back concerts at separate venues in Los Angeles on March 28.

Prince is hoping the live appearances will help build anticipation for the March 29 release of his two new albums, "LOtUSFLOW3R" and "MPLSoUND." Both CDs, along with a third by new artist Bria Valente, will be available as a three disc set exclusively through Target for a price of $11.98.

Prince is also launching a fan subscription service called Lotusflow3r.com. For $77 a year, subscribers will get an as yet not fully outlined set of content that will include exclusive music, video, lyrics, artwork and photos.

On March 28, Prince is scheduled to perform three full-length concerts at Los Angeles' $2.5 billion L.A. Live sports and entertainment project, which is owned and being developed by AEG. Doors for the first show at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live will open at 5:30 p.m.; doors at the Conga Room open at 8 p.m.; and doors at Club Nokia will open at 11:30 p.m.

Fans will be required to purchase separate tickets for each concert. Tickets go on sale March 22 via ticketmaster.com and lotusflow3r.com for $77 (plus additional fees).

The "Tonight Show" performances are part of a larger rollout for the CD package in Los Angeles. In an e-mail message sent to fans who signed up for updates on lotusflow3r.com, Prince wrote, "From the 24th on, there will b a slew of NPG-related events happening around electric LAlaland.. we don't want 2 give away all the details yet, but b prepared 2 get yo groove on, numerous ways 4 numerous days. We know $ is tite but the adventures will b worth ur while! Stay 2ned 2 this outtaspacestation."

As previously reported, Prince is just the latest music legend to release new music exclusively through a major retailer. AC/DC and the Eagles were among the acts who sold millions of CDs through their partnership with Wal-Mart.


BILLBOARD.com

calhoun07

The last time I really liked Prince and bought his albums was the around the late 80's/early 90's. I think Graffiti Bridge was the last one I bought.

I've listened with minor interest at his past few albums, and downloaded a few favorite tracks from Russian download sites.

But this? I really like how it's being marketed, and it's a great price for three CDs. I am not a huge fan of his, and I don't anticipate liking everything on the CDs, but I will certainly buy this just to support it. I want it to be successful so other artists do it as well. I am really fed up with the over priced CDs on today's market and support this kind of marketing that gets music on a physical format at a reasonable price.

Supermallet

I'm so ready to get tickets to those shows.

Edit: Crap! I've already got tickets for Elton John and Billy Joel that night. Crap crap crap crap crap!

dvduser6

Quick question: will this be a Target online exclusive only, or will it also be available at retail stores? This week's flyer doesn't have it listed at all. You'd think the deal he inked would include retail as well for higher potential sales.

gerrythedon

It comes out the 29th, next Sunday. Target only.

Supermallet

Well, looking at the schedule, I might be able to make it to the late Prince show after the Billy Joel/Elton John concert. I may end up getting a ticket after all.

mickey65

"Sign O The Times" was his last good album. I haven't liked anything else he's done since then.

dvduser6

Got it. Thanks for clearing that up!

calhoun07

Certainly his all time classic...that's his Sgt. Pepper.