They gave Prince that contract with the intent of him dying in that contract and recouping ALL the money. There is a recurring theme with record labels i.e. take advantage of young artists, work them into depression, drugs, alcohol or whatever vice and then kill them when they become enlightened and reap all the benefits. These artists know they’re selling their souls to the devil but yet still do it. I found that perplexing.🤔🤔🤔
Control....key word. Prince played it right back with his symbol. You cant play a player, especially one as astute and aware as Prince. Dude studied every aspect of the business side of music. Prince was never weak. He was smart!
I would be thinking, prince I’m talking about, that he would have his lawyers the reader contract even before it was signed, if it did happen, him pretty much giving away his masters, his lawyers did not do too just for him. Unless he, Wanted to do his, On negotiating,, Record labels, are always going to do was best for them, when you negotiate with the record company, when they agree on your terms, or certain terms you doubt yourself because, They usually agree with benefits them.
Fine print? Contracts are signed, knowing exactly what is in it. A similar thing was offered to me, they literally asked for my soul, I thought they were not serious, but no smile came across their face. I would give 3 years of my life, whatever they ask of me, and in exchange the life they know I wanted. However, the same man that required my soul, died exactly 3 years later in South America.
Come is the greatest of his Slave period in my opinion. It's his darkest and most diverse. The opening title track is long but every moment is worthwhile with it's funky beat and jazz horns. This track alone is worthy of a review. Then I would The Gold Experience is his second best of his time period. Gold and Eye Hate U are easily some of his best songs. Eye Hate U is so emotional and hearts throbbing and Gold has some of Prince's realest lyrics.
Thanks for reviewing Prince's WB contract. It now makes more sense to me what was going on and why Prince did some of the things he did. I àppreciate all you do. Great job. :)
I'm glad you made this video. A lot of people thought Prince was just being weird when he changed his name to the Love Symbol and had slave written on his face. All he was doing was just rebelling against Warner Bros.
Prince's artistic integrity (and I'm sure an element of bloody mindedness!) was never going to sit easily with a big commercial organisation like Warners whose main focus is on making money. To be fair to Warners I think they had huge respect for Prince's genius and valued him as a musician as well as a commercial asset. They tried to keep him by offering him more than they offered any other artist but Prince was always a free spirit and wanted to do things his way. It was both his strength and his weakness. I think he modified his view later when he gave fans what they wanted by playing his former hits at his concerts while still doing his new projects too. He always said that he wasn't concerned about hits but jokingly boasted that he had too many hits to play them all! That's why we find Prince endlessly fascinating and love him - he was a mass of contradictions, a complex individual and one of a kind!
I'm ashamed to say that I have played instruments on and off for around 30 years and could barely identify any of his music and know it was Prince. I thought I was too cool to listen to Prince lol. Just this week I found him through a jam session recording while playing the keys. I couldn't keep up at some points, like lost. I'm not a great muso, but I know my way around. One listen I have 95% of songs worked out. But what I lack,and love about Prince is his creativity, whimsical yet serious personality that's infused into his music. He's an extremely generous artist, as he is essentially opening his audience's ears and hearts to let them into his mind. Now I can't get him outta my mind if I wanted to. I'm so glad I finally found another inspiration that has lifted me out of my jaded mindset on music. I can't thank Prince, his collaborators, and fans enough. I feel like I've finally found my estranged extended family. Life is going to only get better as Continue to listen and learn from Princes genius. My body's broken, but my mind has finally lit up after years of depression. It's all fun from here on. 💜💜💜
I feel that the Artist Era was Prince's most defiant years because he railed against musical landscape and didn't give a fuck about what people thought. He was perfectly free on stage but on record a slave with a lot of artists especially black artists was throughout the industry and it was very unfair for him. Artist should control their music and Prince was definitely right. We see that years later when Michael Jackson was in his dispute with Sony. But the difference was he pretty much owned Sony Music because of that catalog even though they wouldn't admit it. Prince was fighting for ownership of his masters. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World was the first of many that he solely promoted on his own outside of that contract. He proved them wrong and still felt blacklisted. He couldn't even license his own music to do other projects because Warner bros. had him in such a bind. I had read a letter Prince wrote in 1996 talking about how he felt like was being used by Warner bros. as a pawn to sell records and that he didn't own his own name anymore. It was really unfortunate what happened to him but it was so needed because it shows how the record companies have ruined artistry and the industry as a whole in not letting artists have complete freedom. Prince should be given more credit for starting the internet selling trend of streaming albums online. He really paved the way for the medium that now it's the ideal way for getting new music. He was a true trailblazer.
Toni Wellons thank you I've always wanted to see that letter the fans found but was suppressed by the media. It says it all what we thought. Was going through my own trauma in 1995 so that period is a blur so to actually see this letter from him now after all these years is fabulous.
+B B I didn't know about this letter until a few months ago. I was a 90s kid, and I didn't understand why Prince changed his name. Discovering him now, I understand why. Hearing his perspective, makes me think of more artists being treated this way in the Industry.
Much different than most musicians- I always appreciated the various different great perks we got from being a Prince fan. The excitement of listening to his newest album (the music + messages seemed to always vary), the anticipation of his next album, + the mystique (the needing to know everything about but knowing very little of the private life) surrounding "our very private PRINCE"! His concerts were a blast-each unique + different! Now that he's gone we still have his past music + the music he left for us to discover...but it's not the same, for me anyway, without PRINCE being here AS I listen to the music! But I feel good in that we fans have each other and "PRINCE'S FRIEND" to remember the great times, support each other at times when one of us might "get a bit down" cause of missing him. Sometimes no one else can seem to understand this. I think we all can find understanding in this group cause I know there have been plenty of times I've felt that way + just come here. I finds lots of company! Thanks to "Prince's Friend" + all you other loyal Prince's friends!☺️❤️
Prince was schooling youngsters way back then. In 1982 I wrote Controversy on my bedroom door. My father made m paint my whole bedroom and door over. Those were the days
It's great hearing about this time period as we were kept in the dark about all of this. It's thanks to the hard core fans who sought him out and kept it going. I'm seeking to purchase 2 of the 4 albums you mentioned. I remember watching an interview when Prince said he asked them for his masters and wanted to buy them back. WB said yes you can get them back for a billion dollars. When Prince said that I looked at the incredulity and despair on his face and I immediately understood his battle with WB. The media portrayed it as something else they also did it to MJ who had his battles about 10 years later with Sony. I loved the 90s Prince era as it had so much heart angst anger and love love love in his music. Definitely a chrysalis period for him with the richness of sound that came after.
Comparable to thriller which came out around the same time as as purple rain, it behooved prince to revamp as j venture in Paisley park and actually ended up being a headache long-term. Prince was Always looking for new sounds / artists etc he was aVisionary. It was a good negotiated k in the beginning stages.
Man. Prince was given possibly the greatest record deal in history and pissed it away. Yes, eventually he "won" and was let go from Warners, but he tanked his own career, which never came close to recovering. Maybe a couple more big hit albums at the start, and he could have ended the six-album-deal with a double or a triple album? Prince's biggest problem is that he's too fast, too restless. By the time it comes to promoting an album, he's already moved on to other projects. His music was miles ahead of anyone, but he didn't take the time to sell it, and in the long run, it really hurt his career. And sure he didn't care, and he was still able to record and release whatever he wanted, but as the years went by, fewer and fewer people were listening, and that's just a bummer. Cool video, man. Thanks.
not hardly cash money records had a way better deal look it up, revisit that statement. all he got was 25 cents on a record with no freedom. Madonna - $120 million (2012) ... Robbie Williams - $125 million (2002) ... Adele - $130 million (2016) ... Bruce Springsteen - $150 million (2005) ... Jay Z - $150 million (2008) ... Lil Wayne - $150 million (2012) Ethan Miller/Getty. ... U2 - $200 million (1993) Thomson Reuters. ... Michael Jackson - $250 million (2010)
Remember always these are Advances similar to.loans at a investment bank. Cannot call it a loan because record co's are not chartered by Fed's or state regulations.. So all must be recouped by the record label for each album/cd...one would have to sell millions (5 mil - 10 mil ) to breakeven or make a profit eventually the artist will be dead....Music is a Sunk Cost the worst cost in business.... best deal is a joint venture deal but you better be selling or have millions laying around.....to do this called financial leverage.. Artists takes years to get there.
Wrong .25 an album is peanuts compared to owning your own soul and getting paid without a middle man.... plus he could release as many or as few albums as he wanted...."pissed it away" unreal. At any moment he could go grab 20 songs and throw out an album.
I love Prince 90s era of creativity. Prince produced many awesome tracks. The dispute Prince had with Warner Brothers prevented much of the material he produced from being marketed and presented to the record buying public in a fair and accessible way. The name change Prince embarked on (when he used the glyph - love symbol - rather than his name Prince) promoted an element of confusion and turned away many fans from his music. That really was a tragedy for so much of Prince work, which in my opinion are works of pure genius. Now after Prince passing, the story of Prince is legendary, comparable to the Sporting Legend, Heavy Weight Boxing Champion of the world Muhammed Ali (Casius Clay) when he also made a stand against the establishment of the day. These people are Pop icons, contemporary hero's. Prince was way ahead of his time as a musician, business man, marketing genius and record producer.
Signing a contract is binding i think and instead of thinking you can do what you want he should have asked what they wanted before signing. Then again they both probably had lawyers and everything. At the end I don't think he did it for the money. Signing a contract at this level is way higher then what 'normal' people ever did so i can't really judge any of them
I agree with you with regard to his musical output during the 90's: while his music was at times frustrating, it was also much better, in my opinion, than anything prior to SOTT. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Purple Rain and Around the World in a Day, etc, just like everyone else. But to me, his sound really began to mature and improve in the albums after that time. I REALLY liked his newer stuff: Rainbow Children, Chaos and Disorder, Hit and Run, Musicology, etc. It's easy to look back and say he could have done this or that, but if he had continued to just release Purple Rain type songs, he would have ended up still being popular and in the vein of The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Metallica...those kind of groups who release the same song (sound) over and over again. Prince just wasn't that kind. And I'm glad for that, because there are songs that just blow me away, especially as they get older and I go back and listen to them know with "new" ears.
i love the later music as well, exactly because of what you said... His later works had a maturity in them his earlier works did not. WB never would have allowed him to release something like the New Power Orchestra, or even N.E.W.S. My favorite Prince albums are The Rainbow Children, N.E.W.S., Expectation, and the like. The switch is perhaps because he finally had the creative freedom to do these things, without contractual obligations. i feel the same way about Michael Jackson. i heard some of his unreleased music (that most likely will never be issued officially); and he did classical music, etc. i don't think those works will be as accepted by the general populace. i notice that people who truly appreciate Mr. Nelson's music have a wide base of musical interests, and look beyond Purple Rain. i do think his one/two-off return to WB though, Art Official Age, is one of his best albums as well. If Prince Stuck to Purple Rain, Controversy and 1999 we most likely would not be celebrating him today in the ways we do, even though those albums were heralded at the time. I feel the same way, if MJ stuck with Thriller-type albums. People talk about how Thriller was his best album, but his later albums pushed boundaries Thriller did not- politically, spiritually, etc.
Thanks for breaking it down. I was under the impression that he wanted full ownership of his master tapes of his previous records. Personally I think 1999, Sign o the Times and Diamonds and Pearls were his best records!
Prince was right, the record company own those singers, rappers, because they're so excited to become famous and don't ask questions before signing in blood. Prince still to me out smarts Warner Bro. and they hated the man and that's really sad. How is this man writing all his own songs but they make all the money and did nothing, sing, play instruments, dance, not jack. Young people wake up. Oh I forgot they own the broadcasting for the music to heard. RIP Prince I still to this day don't believe the way they say you died. Don't believe it!!!!
People can say what they want about Prince's musical output but look at how music is released today. Any and everyone can make a song tonight and have it available the next day. True artist don't fit in the mold of record labels. This is how we get the best of them. Just let genius do what they want and since Warner stifled him now we have to wait for Paisley to take their sweet time to figure out how to create compilation albums, remix and remaster demos then try to sell music to us in a package that wasn't curated by the genius himself. We lose as consumers.
Well, I was a tour dancer for prince 84, 86, 89, 90, to 97. Most of your info is dead on! Do you have a p.o. box? I want to send you something! Nice Work!
I miss this man so much! I still get upset thinking about how he passed. I saw him 7 times in concert and 3 times at after concert bar type places. He is simply amazing. God, I thought I would be going to his concerts when myself and him would be in our 60s and 70s. Such a loss.
In my opinion Prince & Micheal Jackson did not get the credit they deserved they both were so talented I still cry when I think how they left this world way to soon I loved their music I loved them🙏🙏💞🌹🌹
There is a letter that Prince wrote that was on his website during this time period I'm going to send it to you. There is also an article that took place in Monte Carlo before The Gold Experience came out. Those were new songs and it and Prince talks about that in the article. The Vault albums were older songs that WB didnt release until the Rave albums came out in 1999 and 2000. Keep in mind that is when the licencing for the name "Prince" had expired and that is when he changed his name back. WB owned his masters and owned his name. It explains it in the letter Im gonna send you
R Mm, good to see someone who remember what the issues were and exactly what was going on at that time.....people continue talking about the contract; monetarily, while at the same time omitting those two important factors....ownership of “Name” and “Masters” which were everything to Prince....when he saw what was going on with his name....
I was under the impression that Warner Brothers trademarked Prince's name in this contract, which meant that they owned his name, all the work copyrighted under the name, Prince, and thus if he left Warner Brothers Records, he would lose all rights to his name and music. Can anyone confirm if my assessment is correct?
Princes triple album was economical. A triple album could’ve easily sold for $25 in the 90s if packaged correctly, but with the marketing costs of just one which would HUGELY increases profit margins… not to mention they would’ve saved the $10m per album, they’re getting 3 for 1, Prince was giving them value for money. At the same time I feel like Prince was scamming them and playing victim to get away with it knowing the public would side with him
Extra Trivia point: What you alluded to with Prince wanted a break also involved the short lived musical 'Glam Slam Ulysses' with Carmen Electra in which a lot of the Come songs featured.
Thanks for the explanation on all this. The early-mid 90s was definitely not his weakest era as many people think. In my opinion, it was his best. From Emancipation on, I lost interest and consider that to be his weakest era. Partially due to his adoption of organised religion and also due to the fundamental principle that too much freedom actually hinders artistic growth. There needs to be something to rally against. And the 90s gave him the balance of angst and idealism. It was just perfect.
Never met him myself sadly. It would have been a dream. Nice to meet you though, Darryl. Hit me up anytime and welcome to the community. And so glad you liked the video.
Prince is my favorite musical entity of all time... HOWEVER, I never really understood his hatred of WB. Seems like from the very beginning they bent over backwards for him. Letting him do all the producing of his early albums, letting him sign his friends and girlfriends to record deals, letting him make movies. MJ, Madonna, and even Bruce Springsteen weren't doing all of that and they all sold way more records than Prince did. (Obviously, Madonna made movies but not in connection with her record company) Even in the 80's, only 3 of the 9 albums Prince released were commercial blockbusters... 1999, Purple Rain, and Batman. The fact that WB was willing to make that huge deal with him in 1992 is pretty amazing considering his hit or miss track record (saleswise) after Purple Rain. Since the industry standard had switched to CDs over vinyl and CDs could hold roughly twice the amount of music as a vinyl record, that should have solved Prince's desire to make "double" albums, if not "triple". I understand wanting to own the master recordings but all of Prince's other gripes about his contract seem silly to me.
This is my thing with Prince. I understand his point of view, but when you look at the context of his entire relationship with Warner, he was truly going out of his way to make things difficult at times. At the end of the day, we're far past that now.
A lot of soul artists who were big in the 80s went into the 90s and suffered in terms of sales and popularity due to the changing landscape of black radio...black radio in the 1990s got rid of the soul bands and black male in suit and tie and opted for the sagging pants thug hard looking performers like R. Kelly, D'Angelo and TLC.
Yes he was !( Marketed correctly) Record companies want hits! Like Jimmy Jam and Terry and Michael were putting out. he was mad because the music he was doing was not resonating with the masses.
The albums that he turned in to WB to make up for the deal were: The Hits Come The Black Album The Gold Experience Chaos & Disorder The Vault: Old Friends For Sale If I'm not mistaken, I believe he still had one more hits package due in the contract, which ended up being "The Very Best Of Prince", which he was going to counteract with "The Very Best Of O(+>" on NPG. If my facts are correct at the time, TVBOP was released because "The Rainbow Children" was about to be released as his first new official album under the Prince name and WB was capitalizing off of it. On top of all that, strictly in industry terms, the real reason why his face wasn't on any O(+> indie releases was because in the industry, at the time, he was unable to use his own name in conjunction with his likeness to promote the album due to his contracts still in effect with Warner. They let him pursue his indie efforts, but they still owned the "Prince" name until 1999. The 1992 overall contract (including publishing) was technically for - you guessed it - 7 years. Thus, "NewPower Soul" being released under the NPG band name while having his face on the cover. Also, probably why he was allowed to use the Prince name as producer for "Rave" and setting up for the aborted "High" album in 2000.
The Beautiful Experience and Get Wild from NPG exodus album were a taste of a new era for Prince once he unshackled himself from the chains of the Warner contracts. I had such high anticipation for the new triple album emancipation.
I loved the albums that preceded after his contract dispute with Warner Bros. For friends of Pronce this was awesome. I remember when the "Come" album was released. It accompanied me in Europe on my France tour back 95. Alot of thhat music which was being released had some awesome gems. I'm not mad at all. I was like more music the better. There was one point,I was trying to assimilate this music which was being released so exponentially. I was Prince congested. Remember life is moving at te same time. But, Prince was right there. I call the 90's his most inventiive era creatively.
Thanks for the interesting video. 'The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sales' was part of this contract too if I recall. Warner's also effectively shut down Paisley Park Records [Leading to NPG Records].
This was really interesting! I find all the contracts and deals really confusing. Thanks for breaking it all down. I love all the early 90s albums like D&P, O(+> and Come. I think they're amazing. I haven't heard The Gold Experience yet, but I love Emancipation!
MrAzmatMahmood I'm interested to hear the alternate mix of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World on TGE. Everyone says that it's better than the single version.
Great info. I had no idea that 'Chaos and Disorder' tracks were supposed to be on the same album that Gold Experience/Come were meant to be. It makes me want to re-listen to the songs with that in mind. Though i prefer all of Prince's music from Diamonds & Pearls through Chaos & Disorder. It wasn't till he was finally free to make his 3 disk dream album, Emancipation, that i wasn't feeling the music much anymore. Don't get me wrong, it had some good songs (mostly on third disk) but overall felt like too much fluff.
I understand why Prince asked for more because Prince shared the stage with many talents that he had to pay for! So smart on Prince part! He wasn't a dummy, he learned for the previous contract! Plus Shelia E. said that when she did the lovesexy tour she owned Prince 1 million dollars. Prince always got his way!
It would seem to me that the 3 times Prince had an idea for a triple album the resulting creative output more than justified the idea. It makes you wonder how Prince's creative arc may have changed if the triple album projects were released by WB as Prince intended. How much more may have unfurled from him on the strength of seeing his musical manifest as he desired to present it to the world.
I wonder what would happen if Prince had done Purple Rain, promotes it until he releases Sign O The Times, and when he gets to the contract, Warner would let him do 'The Dawn' triple album. What would that alternate timeline would result in? of course he still would do The Gold Experience and Diamonds and Pearls.
Unlike David Bowie, it seems as though Prince remained primarily with Warner Brothers (Gotta love contrasts) What was happening to David Bowie in 1992? Has anyone done a Venn Diagram to compare the two?
It's like Pepe Willie said He was so focused on having the largest Wrekka Contrak in music history, he was willing to accept whatever stipulations they threw at him and in the end, he found himself in the rears with WB. Its a damn shame things went the way they went. He got what he wanted but didn't like it when it was laid out before him. It shows how relentless he was when it cam to bending people to his will. Not to mention WB seeing how marketable he was as well, up until he started trying put out multiple albums per year with little promotion of those albums.
Michael jackson was the highest paid entertainer ever . He signed a deal with sony in 1991 for 1 billion dollars and he would receive $10 million per record . Michael jackson was so hard to sign by any record company because he was the person that owned Beatles catalogue so he already was the richest of all musician/entertainers . He was and still is the only artist that signed to SONY SOFTWARE ( the parent company ) rather than SONY Entertainment divisions . It was said that Michael would receive $108 million from Sony and additional royalty for his record sales and songwriting . But where Michael Jackson fell to this trap prince was clever and smart enough to know that he was being played . So PRINCE WAS THE BRAVEST OF ALL MUSICIAN IN THE HISTORY .
I always asked myself what songs did artist put out that labels forced them to, good to know that Prince had entire projects that basically were the label forcing it's hand.
@@PrincesFriend I appreciate you, I'm sure I'm doing exactly what Prince wanted to do with his artistry atm, but with mine. I couldn't have done it without his story. Very underrated Intelligence came from Prince.
OK I met Prince at his Glam Slam Club Miami Beach he did a small concert only like 100 people we sat at tables Mayte was with him plus a band this was 1994 even then I saw a sadness about him I am not sure why at the time.
Watched the entire video before making a comment, that being said, this could not be rightly described as being an examination of any substance... it's not really based in reality as it relates to business...It seems to me to be a quick restating of old PR sound bites, which are never factual, in fact they are designed not to be. Not trying to be overly critical here, it's just that when we are talking about matters that really only those who have an interest in the music business would be watching, it's important to provide substantive information...More importantly, when we discuss an artist as monumental, as influential, as progressive as Prince, we must have context that accurately reflects his life & times...it's just too important...and imperative for us to get it right. For example, What were the combined album sales from the projects released before the deal? In order to avoid contradictions, what was the individual overhead on the projects? What were the total profits? What is the relevance of his "Hard Core" Fan/Supporters base...This is really important, so that we can get a realistic grasp of the numbers...I say this knowing what the numbers were/are...I myself and knowing others who upon every release would purchase every release both commercial and bootlegged without actually having heard the music before hand or seeing any sort of relavent promotion...Let's just be real...Prince didn't need the kind of marketing push that the others you mentioned needed... Prince supporters knew what they were going to get...This would suggest that Warners didn't expend any relevant capital toward this end...Why else would they propose a !00 Million dollar deal to an artist who wasn't selling, at least 100 Million dollars worth of product?Are you suggesting that they did this out of the kindness of their hearts? Of course you aren't but the video would lead some to that conclusion...As it relates to publishing, Prince was under an administership with Warner since the beginning... That's the reason he signed with them in the first place...He never did any sort of pub deal that would relinquish or dilute his control over his music...hence, in years past, you would not be able to find it on the internet. short of peer to peer...The issue with Warners was over ownership of the Master Recordings... Which if you look at the facts, he did, in fact own...They just extorted him and he had to accept it...for a period of time...So that we may put the whole subject in it's proper context, let me state, PRINCE WAS NOT A MAINSTREAM ARTIST OR ACT! Never was....His career cannot be examined through that lens...Frankly, his intent was to use Warner as a releasing and distributing resource...His only mistake was not realizing that he was doing business with gangsters.
Well stated and you are so right, Prince wasn't a mainstream artist nor do i believe he wanted to be but he was put into that category to some degree, he was such a standalone multi talented artist on a much higher level than most, he could create and play all genres of music so amazingly well. No one can really compare to him and Prince knew what had to offer and i am so proud he put up good fight to have ownership of his music, may he rip now. Love u 4ever Prince
Yes I Agree With What You Said! Right On Point. And let Me Please Add That Prince Was The Only Artist Hu Could Annouce A Concert That He Was Playing A Day Before The Show And Sell Out In One Hour! And Would Have To Add Two , Three Or More Shows. No Other Could Touch Him!!! thAnkh You PRINCE!! TRUE JUSTICE FOR U AND PEACE WITH BLESSINGS!! YOUR MURDERERS WILL GET THEIR PUNISHMENT!!!
The Times had this to say about Michael Jackson's Sony Contract. I'm not sure where you are getting the $60 million Dollar Contract from. "Industry executives who have followed the negotiations said the contract called for Mr. Jackson, who is already the highest-paid performer in the record business, to receive an advance higher than the $18 million he was reported to have received for the final record of his current contract. That would mean that Mr. Jackson would be paid more than $108 million for the six new albums alone, on top of whatever he might receive for the movies, television shows and records he might produce, write or star in."
now I've got 2 go back to chaos and disorder. I listened 2 it once, and thought it was a throw away 2 get out of contract. The other albums, especially Come and Gold Experience, were 2 of my favorites.
Prince respected music too much to do anything throw away. They may not have been everyone's favorite songs, but they were written at the same time as Come and Gold Experience to be part of a 3-disc set. Geez, Chaos & Disorder has a few of my all time favorite tracks, mostly Right the Wrong and Same December.
GOTTA TELL YOU, I TALK TO ONE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AND JILL JONES, I WAS TOLD IN THE 90'S WHAT TOOK A TOLL ON HIS MUSIC WAS WARNER BROTHERS AND THAT CONTRACT AND HIS PERSONAL FEELINGS OVER VANITY, THIS WHAT LED TO HIM LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE AS I WAS TOLD, AND THE REASON OVER HIS DIVORCES, IT TOOK ITS TOLL AFTER WHILE.
So much. I dont begin to get the contract stuff but the thing I got mad at Prince about was him saying he wouldn't give his best work because he was mad at WBR. What he 4got was the records are 4ever and his less than stellar albums would kinda suffer.(Not by me) Having said that I still havent found an album I dont like at least most of the songs. I understand him wanting to emancipate after WBR told him they didnt care what he wrote that it all belonged to them. But he made some mistakes. Who doesnt? And its hard to fight the labels. You cant please everyone, tho. He is putting out too much music, he got greedy, he was arrogant, his music after PR sucked. Prince was tied up by WBR and he didnt like it. His throwaways are better than a lot of people's best. One person's trash is another person's treasure. His after PR is still good to me. I rarely go back to the 80s. I was with him from For You. I could go all year and not hear Raspberry Beret or Starfish, or Paisley Park or LRC or even Purple Rain. In fact now that Computer Blue has the extended version I never listen to Purple Rain. Anyway, yes, he made some mistakes with the contract, I guess, but the reason we have the Vault is because he could never produce all that was in his head. It must have been extremely frustrating for him. He produced more music in a week than most produced in a year. Frustrating! ANd WBR was trying to slow him down even more. All his later music DID NOT FLOP, and some of us actually prefer the non commercial music. It was a mess contractually, I get it. But he did what he felt he needed to do. I love what came out of it. Always will.
Well the problem with most of the music industry contracts is that it consists in advances on albums releases. Much higher the amounts are much controled you are by the labels ! So whatever if Prince was promissed 10 millions per album released, if the sales don't cover that advance you have to pay back or be under the label's orders... Many musicians have been blocked by that and Prince or George Michael were not the first and the latest...because we are talking about money on one side and art on the other...
Thanks again Princes Friend for a great content rich episode. I would love to know where the 3 or 4 lead people from Warner Bros charged with "handling" the Prince 'account/relationship" then, are now? In corporate terms they tried to patronise him with a unique but "over-featured" deal in the hope of keeping him too busy to give them any grief. But they failed to recognise his compulsion to create rather than his non existent need for a quasi corporate A&R status hound role. They confused their value system with his. A contract designed by a committee. Tone deaf relationship management to defer the inevitable day when he would challenge them for his masters. When he got his masters in 2014, and was unmarried - his legacy incentivised his death warrant by persons unknown but close to him.
I remember working for a fortune 500 company and writing SlaVe on my Face. Nobody said anything for 2 days and then Human Resources left me an email and wanted to meet with me. Long story short. I removed it fast!!!!!!!!!!😁 Loved Prince innovations
I worked in a call center at the time and honestly they treated me pretty well I would maybe have done the slave thing too if they didn’t but it’s funny that it requires a lot of freedom proclaim you are a slave huh?
Prince mentioned that when he recorded chaos and disorder that he wasn't going to give them all the good music .. that's why he divide those songs the way he did because he wanted control and freedom which lead him to fight with Warner brothers that ended up with him writing slave on his face....so by 1996 prince wanted out of the contract to be free to do whatever he wanted that's when he release Emancipation the 3 album disc
The Jimmy Jsmoove Network I would agree from a creative view, but from the business side, Prince's music wasn't exactly what fit the trend during the 90's. Like the stock market, the trends are the safer investments. Prince needed Warner more than they needed him; the machine can make stars out of anyone as time has show. But anyway, i appreciate the creativity he did with his career. I was inspired.
@@Bryantthewizz, if Warner Brothers had thought Prince's music was not in line with the trends of the 90's , they would not have had him sign a contract on August 31, 1992. They saw potential in his album but they were dishonest about their dealings with him. Shortly after Prince's death, I read in the Minneapolis Star Tribune in early January 2018 that where Prince had stored unreleased music of his in a vault, it had been removed from his home that he had kept from WB hands. It was reported in this paper that they seized all this. When I read this I was fuming mad. I believe WB was very dishonest about their dealings with Prince which included royalties they owed him still. The family of siblings Prince left behind have been fighting this in court which is why his estate may still be in hock. I hope they sue the hell out of WB because if WB was truly in business with this musical genius, they would have not tried to cheat Prince out of his royalties, as well as intellectual property which he should own! Congress had written provisional laws to protect artists like Prince and George Clinton, Sly Stone and Nina Simone from major copywrite, trademark, and intellectual property issues stemming from false business dealings with record companies like WB and Sony.
I watched this video twice to better understand some things. So, Prince apparently pulled back on the deal that he initially agreed with, right? What I still don't understand is what made the deal so unfavorable to him. As for the output during that 92 and after timeframe, I remember being a fan that eagerly anticipated each of his releases only to be disappointed that it didn't give me the same music feeling that I had from the music he put out from 78-86. There were a few bangers, but like many fans, I wanted something more on the standard he had set. At least this video helps me to understand why creatively Prince's work wasn't that strong. It was just a release of work that was in the vault. It was nothing new. I guess it all confirms how complicated the industry is and how it can zap an artist's energy and spirit.
I heard about that he wanted control on putting or releasing his albums when Warner Brothers said no? Prince went by the symbol and wrote the word slave on his face because of the way the record company was treating him.
Interesting review. Don't know if you have seen the documentary called 'Slave Trade - How Prince re-made the music business'. It documents his post 80s period right up to 3rd Eye Girl with a big chunk on him leaving WB, predicting the rise of the web etc. Recommended. Have mixed feelings on his 90s output. His quality control was all over the place, making the albums less consistent IMHO
I remember seeing albums like come, the gold experience, chaos and disorder in record stores and nobody brought it, not even promoted, I didnt even hear those albums til downloading on the internet began. I think those mid 90s albums after the love symbol were irrelevant, not his best stuff at all. And that in my personal opinion is when he diminished as an artist, he spent too much time putting warner on blast and fightning them in the media than focusing on making the best music possible for the fans.
Is it a coincidence that Prince's recording career started to slip (and never really recovered) when he got rid of his managers, started his feud with warner brothers, changed his name & changed labels? It seems to me he had no business people giving him advice at this point or he just wasn't listening. Warners refused to release the 3 LP crystal ball album a few years before. Why did he think they would let him release the 3 CD the dawn album?
+Brian Inglis it depends on what you mean by slipping. In later years Prince sold less albums sure, but it was mostly due to poor promotion and possibly distribution channels imo. The music was always top-notch and he stilled banked off those albums pretty damn well since he was selling direct and keeping the majority of profits.
Prince's friend - everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have been collecting everything prince i could get my hands on since 1986 when I was 13 years old trawling second hand record stores (no internet back then) in Sydney Australia for every album, b-side, extended version etc. in my opinion prince's post warners feud albums were always disappointing. (I bought every one of them when they came out hoping he'd got his mojo back) the only 2 good albums were in my opinion - the rainbow children (despite the JW speeches) and his last album hit n run phase 2 (a return to his 70s roots).
If I may, was it that Prince wanted more money or that he wanted others not responsible for it (making the music) to not have as much (of the money). At the end of the day, seems to me like he chose to make potentially less $ but shared in a fairer way in between people actually involved.
WATCH NEXT: Prince: Love Symbol Album - Album Review (1992) - Prince and the New Power Generation ruclips.net/video/7qSfHWhL7EM/видео.html
They gave Prince that contract with the intent of him dying in that contract and recouping ALL the money. There is a recurring theme with record labels i.e. take advantage of young artists, work them into depression, drugs, alcohol or whatever vice and then kill them when they become enlightened and reap all the benefits. These artists know they’re selling their souls to the devil but yet still do it. I found that perplexing.🤔🤔🤔
Amen .
Way said.. Stay woke!✌
Well he beat the odds. I'll tell you that much
Prince was not a young artist but a veteran when he signed that. He was 34-35.
Perfectly said
Control....key word. Prince played it right back with his symbol. You cant play a player, especially one as astute and aware as Prince. Dude studied every aspect of the business side of music.
Prince was never weak. He was smart!
Prince signed something and did not read the fine print which took his masters rights away.many of us sign and never read all the small print.
shady Lawyers work close with these record companies to RIP artist off.
Jacqueline Perry Too true
I would be thinking, prince I’m talking about, that he would have his lawyers the reader contract even before it was signed, if it did happen, him pretty much giving away his masters, his lawyers did not do too just for him.
Unless he, Wanted to do his, On negotiating,, Record labels, are always going to do was best for them, when you negotiate with the record company, when they agree on your terms, or certain terms you doubt yourself because, They usually agree with benefits them.
Fine print? Contracts are signed, knowing exactly what is in it. A similar thing was offered to me, they literally asked for my soul, I thought they were not serious, but no smile came across their face. I would give 3 years of my life, whatever they ask of me, and in exchange the life they know I wanted. However, the same man that required my soul, died exactly 3 years later in South America.
@@FiveMCity Stop spreading your childish superstitious view of the world. We've got actual answers nowadays. Stop being so scared.
Come is the greatest of his Slave period in my opinion. It's his darkest and most diverse. The opening title track is long but every moment is worthwhile with it's funky beat and jazz horns. This track alone is worthy of a review. Then I would The Gold Experience is his second best of his time period. Gold and Eye Hate U are easily some of his best songs. Eye Hate U is so emotional and hearts throbbing and Gold has some of Prince's realest lyrics.
Thanks for reviewing Prince's WB contract. It now makes more sense to me what was going on and why Prince did some of the things he did. I àppreciate all you do. Great job. :)
I'm glad you made this video. A lot of people thought Prince was just being weird when he changed his name to the Love Symbol and had slave written on his face. All he was doing was just rebelling against Warner Bros.
exactly!
Prince's artistic integrity (and I'm sure an element of bloody mindedness!) was never going to sit easily with a big commercial organisation like Warners whose main focus is on making money. To be fair to Warners I think they had huge respect for Prince's genius and valued him as a musician as well as a commercial asset. They tried to keep him by offering him more than they offered any other artist but Prince was always a free spirit and wanted to do things his way. It was both his strength and his weakness. I think he modified his view later when he gave fans what they wanted by playing his former hits at his concerts while still doing his new projects too. He always said that he wasn't concerned about hits but jokingly boasted that he had too many hits to play them all! That's why we find Prince endlessly fascinating and love him - he was a mass of contradictions, a complex individual and one of a kind!
Mandy. Watts I think I can speak on his behalf (Mega Love his entire life & all), but he'd be the first to say Money don't make you Free!
I'm ashamed to say that I have played instruments on and off for around 30 years and could barely identify any of his music and know it was Prince. I thought I was too cool to listen to Prince lol. Just this week I found him through a jam session recording while playing the keys. I couldn't keep up at some points, like lost. I'm not a great muso, but I know my way around. One listen I have 95% of songs worked out. But what I lack,and love about Prince is his creativity, whimsical yet serious personality that's infused into his music. He's an extremely generous artist, as he is essentially opening his audience's ears and hearts to let them into his mind. Now I can't get him outta my mind if I wanted to.
I'm so glad I finally found another inspiration that has lifted me out of my jaded mindset on music. I can't thank Prince, his collaborators, and fans enough. I feel like I've finally found my estranged extended family. Life is going to only get better as Continue to listen and learn from Princes genius. My body's broken, but my mind has finally lit up after years of depression.
It's all fun from here on.
💜💜💜
The value of $100,000,000 in 1992 is the same as around $211,000,000 today, so that's the potential relative worth of the deal as of 2022! Insane
I feel that the Artist Era was Prince's most defiant years because he railed against musical landscape and didn't give a fuck about what people thought. He was perfectly free on stage but on record a slave with a lot of artists especially black artists was throughout the industry and it was very unfair for him. Artist should control their music and Prince was definitely right. We see that years later when Michael Jackson was in his dispute with Sony. But the difference was he pretty much owned Sony Music because of that catalog even though they wouldn't admit it. Prince was fighting for ownership of his masters. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World was the first of many that he solely promoted on his own outside of that contract. He proved them wrong and still felt blacklisted. He couldn't even license his own music to do other projects because Warner bros. had him in such a bind. I had read a letter Prince wrote in 1996 talking about how he felt like was being used by Warner bros. as a pawn to sell records and that he didn't own his own name anymore. It was really unfortunate what happened to him but it was so needed because it shows how the record companies have ruined artistry and the industry as a whole in not letting artists have complete freedom. Prince should be given more credit for starting the internet selling trend of streaming albums online. He really paved the way for the medium that now it's the ideal way for getting new music. He was a true trailblazer.
I'd love 2 read that letter, please post it. please.
Beautifully said Toni, thank you! great job
+David Marcello English Coach medium.com/@anildash/message-from-the-artist-c611535da21c
Toni Wellons thank you I've always wanted to see that letter the fans found but was suppressed by the media. It says it all what we thought. Was going through my own trauma in 1995 so that period is a blur so to actually see this letter from him now after all these years is fabulous.
+B B I didn't know about this letter until a few months ago. I was a 90s kid, and I didn't understand why Prince changed his name. Discovering him now, I understand why. Hearing his perspective, makes me think of more artists being treated this way in the Industry.
Much different than most musicians- I always appreciated the various different great perks we got from being a Prince fan.
The excitement of listening to his newest album (the music + messages seemed to always vary), the anticipation of his next album, + the mystique (the needing to know everything about but knowing very little of the private life) surrounding "our very private PRINCE"!
His concerts were a blast-each unique + different!
Now that he's gone we still have his past music + the music he left for us to discover...but it's not the same, for me anyway, without PRINCE being here AS I listen to the music!
But I feel good in that we fans have each other and "PRINCE'S FRIEND" to remember the great times, support each other at times when one of us might "get a bit down" cause of missing him.
Sometimes no one else can seem to understand this. I think we all can find understanding in this group cause I know there have been plenty of times I've felt that way + just come here. I finds lots of company!
Thanks to "Prince's Friend" + all you other loyal Prince's friends!☺️❤️
Prince was schooling youngsters way back then. In 1982 I wrote Controversy on my bedroom door. My father made m paint my whole bedroom and door over. Those were the days
It's great hearing about this time period as we were kept in the dark about all of this. It's thanks to the hard core fans who sought him out and kept it going. I'm seeking to purchase 2 of the 4 albums you mentioned. I remember watching an interview when Prince said he asked them for his masters and wanted to buy them back. WB said yes you can get them back for a billion dollars. When Prince said that I looked at the incredulity and despair on his face and I immediately understood his battle with WB. The media portrayed it as something else they also did it to MJ who had his battles about 10 years later with Sony. I loved the 90s Prince era as it had so much heart angst anger and love love love in his music. Definitely a chrysalis period for him with the richness of sound that came after.
Comparable to thriller which came out around the same time as as purple rain, it behooved prince to revamp as j venture in Paisley park and actually ended up being a headache long-term. Prince was Always looking for new sounds / artists etc he was aVisionary. It was a good negotiated k in the beginning stages.
1990's are my favorite Prince music I think the stuff that he did and didn't release is so underrated
I agree thank you saying that much love
Then neither of you are really Prince fans. 😑
Man. Prince was given possibly the greatest record deal in history and pissed it away. Yes, eventually he "won" and was let go from Warners, but he tanked his own career, which never came close to recovering. Maybe a couple more big hit albums at the start, and he could have ended the six-album-deal with a double or a triple album? Prince's biggest problem is that he's too fast, too restless. By the time it comes to promoting an album, he's already moved on to other projects. His music was miles ahead of anyone, but he didn't take the time to sell it, and in the long run, it really hurt his career. And sure he didn't care, and he was still able to record and release whatever he wanted, but as the years went by, fewer and fewer people were listening, and that's just a bummer.
Cool video, man. Thanks.
Ethan Sloan Well said.
not hardly cash money records had a way better deal look it up, revisit that statement. all he got was 25 cents on a record with no freedom.
Madonna - $120 million (2012) ...
Robbie Williams - $125 million (2002) ...
Adele - $130 million (2016) ...
Bruce Springsteen - $150 million (2005) ...
Jay Z - $150 million (2008) ...
Lil Wayne - $150 million (2012) Ethan Miller/Getty. ...
U2 - $200 million (1993) Thomson Reuters. ...
Michael Jackson - $250 million (2010)
Remember always these are Advances similar to.loans at a
investment bank. Cannot call it
a loan because record co's are
not chartered by Fed's or state
regulations.. So all must be recouped by the record label
for each album/cd...one would
have to sell millions (5 mil -
10 mil ) to breakeven or make a
profit eventually the artist will be
dead....Music is a Sunk Cost
the worst cost in business....
best deal is a joint venture deal
but you better be selling or have
millions laying around.....to do this
called financial leverage..
Artists takes years to get there.
Wrong .25 an album is peanuts compared to owning your own soul and getting paid without a middle man.... plus he could release as many or as few albums as he wanted...."pissed it away" unreal. At any moment he could go grab 20 songs and throw out an album.
Ethan Sloan you sound dumb as hell
I love Prince 90s era of creativity. Prince produced many awesome tracks. The dispute Prince had with Warner Brothers prevented much of the material he produced from being marketed and presented to the record buying public in a fair and accessible way. The name change Prince embarked on (when he used the glyph - love symbol - rather than his name Prince) promoted an element of confusion and turned away many fans from his music. That really was a tragedy for so much of Prince work, which in my opinion are works of pure genius. Now after Prince passing, the story of Prince is legendary, comparable to the Sporting Legend, Heavy Weight Boxing Champion of the world Muhammed Ali (Casius Clay) when he also made a stand against the establishment of the day. These people are Pop icons, contemporary hero's. Prince was way ahead of his time as a musician, business man, marketing genius and record producer.
Signing a contract is binding i think and instead of thinking you can do what you want he should have asked what they wanted before signing. Then again they both probably had lawyers and everything. At the end I don't think he did it for the money. Signing a contract at this level is way higher then what 'normal' people ever did so i can't really judge any of them
I agree with you with regard to his musical output during the 90's: while his music was at times frustrating, it was also much better, in my opinion, than anything prior to SOTT. Now, don't get me wrong, I like Purple Rain and Around the World in a Day, etc, just like everyone else. But to me, his sound really began to mature and improve in the albums after that time. I REALLY liked his newer stuff: Rainbow Children, Chaos and Disorder, Hit and Run, Musicology, etc. It's easy to look back and say he could have done this or that, but if he had continued to just release Purple Rain type songs, he would have ended up still being popular and in the vein of The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Metallica...those kind of groups who release the same song (sound) over and over again. Prince just wasn't that kind. And I'm glad for that, because there are songs that just blow me away, especially as they get older and I go back and listen to them know with "new" ears.
i love the later music as well, exactly because of what you said... His later works had a maturity in them his earlier works did not. WB never would have allowed him to release something like the New Power Orchestra, or even N.E.W.S. My favorite Prince albums are The Rainbow Children, N.E.W.S., Expectation, and the like. The switch is perhaps because he finally had the creative freedom to do these things, without contractual obligations. i feel the same way about Michael Jackson. i heard some of his unreleased music (that most likely will never be issued officially); and he did classical music, etc. i don't think those works will be as accepted by the general populace. i notice that people who truly appreciate Mr. Nelson's music have a wide base of musical interests, and look beyond Purple Rain. i do think his one/two-off return to WB though, Art Official Age, is one of his best albums as well.
If Prince Stuck to Purple Rain, Controversy and 1999 we most likely would not be celebrating him today in the ways we do, even though those albums were heralded at the time. I feel the same way, if MJ stuck with Thriller-type albums. People talk about how Thriller was his best album, but his later albums pushed boundaries Thriller did not- politically, spiritually, etc.
I think Emancipation was Prince's best work, it is absolutely incredible, a masterpiece.
Real artists evolve their sounds and Prince was definitely that type of artist which makes him a true great
@@kandikane923 that 2nd disc
Uhmm Michael Jackson did try to do thriller. Bad album was thriller 2.0
Thanks for breaking it down. I was under the impression that he wanted full ownership of his master tapes of his previous records. Personally I think 1999, Sign o the Times and Diamonds and Pearls were his best records!
Love Gold Experience also
Thanks for explaining Prince's contract & situation back in the 90's
Prince was right, the record company own those singers, rappers, because they're so excited to become famous and don't ask questions before signing in blood. Prince still to me out smarts Warner Bro. and they hated the man and that's really sad. How is this man writing all his own songs but they make all the money and did nothing, sing, play instruments, dance, not jack. Young people wake up. Oh I forgot they own the broadcasting for the music to heard. RIP Prince I still to this day don't believe the way they say you died. Don't believe it!!!!
thank you so much for your explanation. It has been such great help. Hugs from Madrid, Spain.
He matured right a long with us all
People can say what they want about Prince's musical output but look at how music is released today. Any and everyone can make a song tonight and have it available the next day. True artist don't fit in the mold of record labels. This is how we get the best of them. Just let genius do what they want and since Warner stifled him now we have to wait for Paisley to take their sweet time to figure out how to create compilation albums, remix and remaster demos then try to sell music to us in a package that wasn't curated by the genius himself. We lose as consumers.
It's very difficult dealing with stars when they are alive now that he's deceased his music is being played on commercials
Well, I was a tour dancer for prince 84, 86, 89, 90, to 97. Most of your info is dead on! Do you have a p.o. box? I want to send you something! Nice Work!
Van evans maybe u should write a book and have it done into a movie the prince years. Good luck to you. Hope it gets put out.
Vans Evan wow u have any pics with prince
I miss this man so much! I still get upset thinking about how he passed. I saw him 7 times in concert and 3 times at after concert bar type places. He is simply amazing. God, I thought I would be going to his concerts when myself and him would be in our 60s and 70s. Such a loss.
You’ve witnessed what some of us can only imagine, kudos to you
In my opinion Prince & Micheal Jackson did not get the credit they deserved they both were so talented I still cry when I think how they left this world way to soon I loved their music I loved them🙏🙏💞🌹🌹
GREAT JOB....for years I've wanted this explained....thank you!
There is a letter that Prince wrote that was on his website during this time period I'm going to send it to you. There is also an article that took place in Monte Carlo before The Gold Experience came out. Those were new songs and it and Prince talks about that in the article. The Vault albums were older songs that WB didnt release until the Rave albums came out in 1999 and 2000. Keep in mind that is when the licencing for the name "Prince" had expired and that is when he changed his name back. WB owned his masters and owned his name. It explains it in the letter Im gonna send you
wow. I'd love 2 see that letter, pleaseeee
R Mm, why don't you put the letter out here that Prince wrote and was on his website for us to see also?
I would love to see that letter. Thanks.
R Mm, good to see someone who remember what the issues were and exactly what was going on at that time.....people continue talking about the contract; monetarily, while at the same time omitting those two important factors....ownership of “Name” and “Masters” which were everything to Prince....when he saw what was going on with his name....
Hello can I have a copy of that letter!
I was under the impression that Warner Brothers trademarked Prince's name in this contract, which meant that they owned his name, all the work copyrighted under the name, Prince, and thus if he left Warner Brothers Records, he would lose all rights to his name and music. Can anyone confirm if my assessment is correct?
Even before listening, I couldn't even get past his Beautiful penmanship! I so Love this Man still.❤❤❤❤❤
Great breakdown. I think all aspiring artists should watch this video. Where did you get the actual contract photo that you placed in the thumbnail?
It was one used by a news station when it was first reported
Princes triple album was economical. A triple album could’ve easily sold for $25 in the 90s if packaged correctly, but with the marketing costs of just one which would HUGELY increases profit margins… not to mention they would’ve saved the $10m per album, they’re getting 3 for 1, Prince was giving them value for money.
At the same time I feel like Prince was scamming them and playing victim to get away with it knowing the public would side with him
Extra Trivia point: What you alluded to with Prince wanted a break also involved the short lived musical 'Glam Slam Ulysses' with Carmen Electra in which a lot of the Come songs featured.
Thanks for the explanation on all this. The early-mid 90s was definitely not his weakest era as many people think. In my opinion, it was his best. From Emancipation on, I lost interest and consider that to be his weakest era. Partially due to his adoption of organised religion and also due to the fundamental principle that too much freedom actually hinders artistic growth. There needs to be something to rally against. And the 90s gave him the balance of angst and idealism. It was just perfect.
Thank you for this video. Did you ever personally know Prince? He was my cousin. Music and being a multi instrumentalist runs deep in our family
Never met him myself sadly. It would have been a dream. Nice to meet you though, Darryl. Hit me up anytime and welcome to the community. And so glad you liked the video.
@@PrincesFriend thanks brother 🔥✊🏾
Prince is my favorite musical entity of all time... HOWEVER, I never really understood his hatred of WB. Seems like from the very beginning they bent over backwards for him. Letting him do all the producing of his early albums, letting him sign his friends and girlfriends to record deals, letting him make movies. MJ, Madonna, and even Bruce Springsteen weren't doing all of that and they all sold way more records than Prince did. (Obviously, Madonna made movies but not in connection with her record company) Even in the 80's, only 3 of the 9 albums Prince released were commercial blockbusters... 1999, Purple Rain, and Batman. The fact that WB was willing to make that huge deal with him in 1992 is pretty amazing considering his hit or miss track record (saleswise) after Purple Rain. Since the industry standard had switched to CDs over vinyl and CDs could hold roughly twice the amount of music as a vinyl record, that should have solved Prince's desire to make "double" albums, if not "triple". I understand wanting to own the master recordings but all of Prince's other gripes about his contract seem silly to me.
This is my thing with Prince. I understand his point of view, but when you look at the context of his entire relationship with Warner, he was truly going out of his way to make things difficult at times. At the end of the day, we're far past that now.
His band NPG and fierce live energy and shows was magic in the 90's though
Great breakdown. Now I really understand the brothas struggles with the record company.
This was my favorite era i was all in!
+Lenny Beason agreed there
Prince was not properly promoted. Some of his music did not belong in a regular pop station or Hip Hop station
Can we get a interview
With who?
A lot of soul artists who were big in the 80s went into the 90s and suffered in terms of sales and popularity due to the changing landscape of black radio...black radio in the 1990s got rid of the soul bands and black male in suit and tie and opted for the sagging pants thug hard looking performers like R. Kelly, D'Angelo and TLC.
Yes he was !( Marketed correctly) Record companies want hits! Like Jimmy Jam and Terry and Michael were putting out. he was mad because the music he was doing was not resonating with the masses.
Prince albums were all great!!!
Prince's albums after the early 90s were awful. Rave unto the Joy Fantastic was anything but fantastic.
Disagree chemiah, but we all have different ears
It's basically what put a target on Prince's back. He made several people angry.
The albums that he turned in to WB to make up for the deal were:
The Hits
Come
The Black Album
The Gold Experience
Chaos & Disorder
The Vault: Old Friends For Sale
If I'm not mistaken, I believe he still had one more hits package due in the contract, which ended up being "The Very Best Of Prince", which he was going to counteract with "The Very Best Of O(+>" on NPG. If my facts are correct at the time, TVBOP was released because "The Rainbow Children" was about to be released as his first new official album under the Prince name and WB was capitalizing off of it. On top of all that, strictly in industry terms, the real reason why his face wasn't on any O(+> indie releases was because in the industry, at the time, he was unable to use his own name in conjunction with his likeness to promote the album due to his contracts still in effect with Warner. They let him pursue his indie efforts, but they still owned the "Prince" name until 1999. The 1992 overall contract (including publishing) was technically for - you guessed it - 7 years. Thus, "NewPower Soul" being released under the NPG band name while having his face on the cover. Also, probably why he was allowed to use the Prince name as producer for "Rave" and setting up for the aborted "High" album in 2000.
Wow, amazing. I never know all of that in this much detail. Great video.
Thank for checking it out. There’s a lot to uncover when you dig a bit
This is great love the news Happy TGIF to you hope you have a great weekend my friend 😁💜💜💜💜💜
The Beautiful Experience and Get Wild from NPG exodus album were a taste of a new era for Prince once he unshackled himself from the chains of the Warner contracts. I had such high anticipation for the new triple album emancipation.
Wow, my first video of yours and i'm DEFINITELY subscribing! Incredible. 💜
I loved the albums that preceded after his contract dispute with Warner Bros. For friends of Pronce this was awesome. I remember when the "Come" album was released. It accompanied me in Europe on my France tour back 95. Alot of thhat music which was being released had some awesome gems. I'm not mad at all. I was like more music the better. There was one point,I was trying to assimilate this music which was being released so exponentially. I was Prince congested. Remember life is moving at te same time. But, Prince was right there. I call the 90's his most inventiive era creatively.
Thanks for the interesting video. 'The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sales' was part of this contract too if I recall. Warner's also effectively shut down Paisley Park Records [Leading to NPG Records].
This was really interesting! I find all the contracts and deals really confusing. Thanks for breaking it all down. I love all the early 90s albums like D&P, O(+> and Come. I think they're amazing. I haven't heard The Gold Experience yet, but I love Emancipation!
+Ashley White you're in for a treat if you missed the Gold Experience
Prince's Friend Yes, everyone says that The Gold Experience is amazing. Hopefully I'll be able to get it soon.
Ashley White you can listen to it on tidal!
MrAzmatMahmood Yes, I don't have Tidal. I want to get the CD eventually, so I might as well just wait until I get the CD.
MrAzmatMahmood I'm interested to hear the alternate mix of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World on TGE. Everyone says that it's better than the single version.
Great info. I had no idea that 'Chaos and Disorder' tracks were supposed to be on the same album that Gold Experience/Come were meant to be. It makes me want to re-listen to the songs with that in mind.
Though i prefer all of Prince's music from Diamonds & Pearls through Chaos & Disorder. It wasn't till he was finally free to make his 3 disk dream album, Emancipation, that i wasn't feeling the music much anymore. Don't get me wrong, it had some good songs (mostly on third disk) but overall felt like too much fluff.
You are a smart one! His most a.axing albums came during that time. NPG ERA!
your friend met me in a dream & taught me to play “1999”
I understand why Prince asked for more because Prince shared the stage with many talents that he had to pay for! So smart on Prince part! He wasn't a dummy, he learned for the previous contract! Plus Shelia E. said that when she did the lovesexy tour she owned Prince 1 million dollars. Prince always got his way!
Monique Williams thank you which is why he got sued by Levi Spicer
Actually that's incorrect what happened with Sheila is she went into debt on her own from overspending and Prince paid off the $1 million debt.
LOVE SYMBOL MY FAV PRINCE ALBUM
It is really good
It would seem to me that the 3 times Prince had an idea for a triple album the resulting creative output more than justified the idea. It makes you wonder how Prince's creative arc may have changed if the triple album projects were released by WB as Prince intended. How much more may have unfurled from him on the strength of seeing his musical manifest as he desired to present it to the world.
Exacyly
As always great review. That being said, when you reduce this down to its basic elements, this spat with Warner, screwed the fans.
Interesting view. Can you elaborate?
Very insightful, great video.
Great info thanks!👍
You nailed it on this.
Thank you much 👍🏽💜
I wonder what would happen if Prince had done Purple Rain, promotes it until he releases Sign O The Times, and when he gets to the contract, Warner would let him do 'The Dawn' triple album. What would that alternate timeline would result in? of course he still would do The Gold Experience and Diamonds and Pearls.
Unlike David Bowie, it seems as though Prince remained primarily with Warner Brothers (Gotta love contrasts) What was happening to David Bowie in 1992? Has anyone done a Venn Diagram to compare the two?
It's like Pepe Willie said He was so focused on having the largest Wrekka Contrak in music history, he was willing to accept whatever stipulations they threw at him and in the end, he found himself in the rears with WB. Its a damn shame things went the way they went. He got what he wanted but didn't like it when it was laid out before him. It shows how relentless he was when it cam to bending people to his will. Not to mention WB seeing how marketable he was as well, up until he started trying put out multiple albums per year with little promotion of those albums.
Michael jackson was the highest paid entertainer ever . He signed a deal with sony in 1991 for 1 billion dollars and he would receive $10 million per record . Michael jackson was so hard to sign by any record company because he was the person that owned Beatles catalogue so he already was the richest of all musician/entertainers . He was and still is the only artist that signed to SONY SOFTWARE ( the parent company ) rather than SONY Entertainment divisions . It was said that Michael would receive $108 million from Sony and additional royalty for his record sales and songwriting . But where Michael Jackson fell to this trap prince was clever and smart enough to know that he was being played . So PRINCE WAS THE BRAVEST OF ALL MUSICIAN IN THE HISTORY .
Just one word......PERFECT👌💜👏👏👏🔝🎸🎵
oh thanks! and this was an older video. lol
@@PrincesFriend vintage its better sometimes lol
I always asked myself what songs did artist put out that labels forced them to, good to know that Prince had entire projects that basically were the label forcing it's hand.
I mean yes and no. It all would have seen the light anyway. It was just faster. 💜
@@PrincesFriend I appreciate you, I'm sure I'm doing exactly what Prince wanted to do with his artistry atm, but with mine. I couldn't have done it without his story. Very underrated Intelligence came from Prince.
Maybe he should've worked everything out BEFORE signing. It just seemed laughable. Fine print must always be read. Don't let anyone rush you.
Prince, MJ, Kanye...
U did great bro. It's complicated and tricky 2 explain. Well done.
thanks so much!
OK I met Prince at his Glam Slam Club Miami Beach he did a small concert only like 100 people we sat at tables Mayte was with him plus a band this was 1994 even then I saw a sadness about him I am not sure why at the time.
That whole thing with Warners he told me he was getting married and then everything that happened with Mayte and the baby
thank you for not eating in this video
Thanks for the details, good research!!
Mj had 200 songs he owed the label only 2 songs as a set. Prince Always had new music
I a Prince fan since 1984, but you seem more into Prince than I!! Have you ever met him, or seen him in person?
Never will be a day I feel 4 record companies
😂
Watched the entire video before making a comment, that being said, this could not be rightly described as being an examination of any substance... it's not really based in reality as it relates to business...It seems to me to be a quick restating of old PR sound bites, which are never factual, in fact they are designed not to be. Not trying to be overly critical here, it's just that when we are talking about matters that really only those who have an interest in the music business would be watching, it's important to provide substantive information...More importantly, when we discuss an artist as monumental, as influential, as progressive as Prince, we must have context that accurately reflects his life & times...it's just too important...and imperative for us to get it right. For example, What were the combined album sales from the projects released before the deal? In order to avoid contradictions, what was the individual overhead on the projects? What were the total profits? What is the relevance of his "Hard Core" Fan/Supporters base...This is really important, so that we can get a realistic grasp of the numbers...I say this knowing what the numbers were/are...I myself and knowing others who upon every release would purchase every release both commercial and bootlegged without actually having heard the music before hand or seeing any sort of relavent promotion...Let's just be real...Prince didn't need the kind of marketing push that the others you mentioned needed... Prince supporters knew what they were going to get...This would suggest that Warners didn't expend any relevant capital toward this end...Why else would they propose a !00 Million dollar deal to an artist who wasn't selling, at least 100 Million dollars worth of product?Are you suggesting that they did this out of the kindness of their hearts? Of course you aren't but the video would lead some to that conclusion...As it relates to publishing, Prince was under an administership with Warner since the beginning... That's the reason he signed with them in the first place...He never did any sort of pub deal that would relinquish or dilute his control over his music...hence, in years past, you would not be able to find it on the internet. short of peer to peer...The issue with Warners was over ownership of the Master Recordings... Which if you look at the facts, he did, in fact own...They just extorted him and he had to accept it...for a period of time...So that we may put the whole subject in it's proper context, let me state, PRINCE WAS NOT A MAINSTREAM ARTIST OR ACT! Never was....His career cannot be examined through that lens...Frankly, his intent was to use Warner as a releasing and distributing resource...His only mistake was not realizing that he was doing business with gangsters.
Well stated and you are so right, Prince wasn't a mainstream artist nor do i believe he wanted to be but he was put into that category to some degree, he was such a standalone multi talented artist on a much higher level than most, he could create and play all genres of music so amazingly well. No one can really compare to him and Prince knew what had to offer and i am so proud he put up good fight to have ownership of his music, may he rip now. Love u 4ever Prince
Yes I Agree With What You Said! Right On Point. And let Me Please Add That Prince Was The Only Artist Hu Could Annouce A Concert That He Was Playing A Day Before The Show And Sell Out In One Hour! And Would Have To Add Two , Three Or More Shows. No Other Could Touch Him!!! thAnkh You PRINCE!! TRUE JUSTICE FOR U AND PEACE WITH BLESSINGS!! YOUR MURDERERS WILL GET THEIR PUNISHMENT!!!
@@ptahsabaqrayay8816 I think you could do that (concert) with MJ too and probably a much bigger venue. Madonna too probably.
The Times had this to say about Michael Jackson's Sony Contract. I'm not sure where you are getting the $60 million Dollar Contract from.
"Industry executives who have followed the negotiations said the contract called for Mr. Jackson, who is already the highest-paid performer in the record business, to receive an advance higher than the $18 million he was reported to have received for the final record of his current contract. That would mean that Mr. Jackson would be paid more than $108 million for the six new albums alone, on top of whatever he might receive for the movies, television shows and records he might produce, write or star in."
Feel free to provide a link as well.
now I've got 2 go back to chaos and disorder. I listened 2 it once, and thought it was a throw away 2 get out of contract. The other albums, especially Come and Gold Experience, were 2 of my favorites.
Prince respected music too much to do anything throw away. They may not have been everyone's favorite songs, but they were written at the same time as Come and Gold Experience to be part of a 3-disc set. Geez, Chaos & Disorder has a few of my all time favorite tracks, mostly Right the Wrong and Same December.
Prince's Friend I should have known better. Thanks Friend!
GOTTA TELL YOU, I TALK TO ONE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS AND JILL JONES, I WAS TOLD IN THE 90'S WHAT TOOK A TOLL ON HIS MUSIC WAS WARNER BROTHERS AND THAT CONTRACT AND HIS PERSONAL FEELINGS OVER VANITY, THIS WHAT LED TO HIM LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE AS I WAS TOLD, AND THE REASON OVER HIS DIVORCES, IT TOOK ITS TOLL AFTER WHILE.
This is unintentionally funny... like I’m picturing prince at the board meetings with his squad lol
So much. I dont begin to get the contract stuff but the thing I got mad at Prince about was him saying he wouldn't give his best work because he was mad at WBR. What he 4got was the records are 4ever and his less than stellar albums would kinda suffer.(Not by me) Having said that I still havent found an album I dont like at least most of the songs. I understand him wanting to emancipate after WBR told him they didnt care what he wrote that it all belonged to them. But he made some mistakes. Who doesnt? And its hard to fight the labels. You cant please everyone, tho. He is putting out too much music, he got greedy, he was arrogant, his music after PR sucked. Prince was tied up by WBR and he didnt like it. His throwaways are better than a lot of people's best.
One person's trash is another person's treasure. His after PR is still good to me. I rarely go back to the 80s. I was with him from For You. I could go all year and not hear Raspberry Beret or Starfish, or Paisley Park or LRC or even Purple Rain. In fact now that Computer Blue has the extended version I never listen to Purple Rain.
Anyway, yes, he made some mistakes with the contract, I guess, but the reason we have the Vault is because he could never produce all that was in his head. It must have been extremely frustrating for him. He produced more music in a week than most produced in a year. Frustrating! ANd WBR was trying to slow him down even more. All his later music DID NOT FLOP, and some of us actually prefer the non commercial music. It was a mess contractually, I get it. But he did what he felt he needed to do. I love what came out of it. Always will.
Well the problem with most of the music industry contracts is that it consists in advances on albums releases. Much higher the amounts are much controled you are by the labels ! So whatever if Prince was promissed 10 millions per album released, if the sales don't cover that advance you have to pay back or be under the label's orders... Many musicians have been blocked by that and Prince or George Michael were not the first and the latest...because we are talking about money on one side and art on the other...
News!!!!! Prince music videos are now up on iTunes!!! 😱
They've been up for weeks. I've even done a couple of update videos to remind people to subscribe. lol. Glad you're on it now though. :)
Yes!!! Thank you!!! "House Rules" are always in effect -Change Copyright/Work For Hire Law - lemme C Ya try. ;)
Where can a copy of this contract be found?
Thanks again Princes Friend for a great content rich episode. I would love to know where the 3 or 4 lead people from Warner Bros charged with "handling" the Prince 'account/relationship" then, are now?
In corporate terms they tried to patronise him with a unique but "over-featured" deal in the hope of keeping him too busy to give them any grief. But they failed to recognise his compulsion to create rather than his non existent need for a quasi corporate A&R status hound role. They confused their value system with his. A contract designed by a committee.
Tone deaf relationship management to defer the inevitable day when he would challenge them for his masters. When he got his masters in 2014, and was unmarried - his legacy incentivised his death warrant by persons unknown but close to him.
R.I.P. Prince
Cool thanks this is was really interesting to see now i’d just love to see hear how MJ’s contract with Sony faired out in full depth
I remember working for a fortune 500 company and writing SlaVe on my Face.
Nobody said anything for 2 days and then Human Resources left me an email and wanted to meet with me.
Long story short.
I removed it fast!!!!!!!!!!😁
Loved Prince innovations
😂
@@PrincesFriend for real my brother. 😂😂
Appreciate the channel as well. You got it right about Warner too.
I worked in a call center at the time and honestly they treated me pretty well I would maybe have done the slave thing too if they didn’t but it’s funny that it requires a lot of freedom proclaim you are a slave huh?
Prince mentioned that when he recorded chaos and disorder that he wasn't going to give them all the good music .. that's why he divide those songs the way he did because he wanted control and freedom which lead him to fight with Warner brothers that ended up with him writing slave on his face....so by 1996 prince wanted out of the contract to be free to do whatever he wanted that's when he release Emancipation the 3 album disc
From a business perspective, Warner was right in calling the shots; it's their money they've invested
It was an issue with expectations on both sides, who had control freaks in each corner. :)
Bryant They Wasn't They Are Not In The Studios Creating The Music or Having to Pay Band Members Who Sued You
The Jimmy Jsmoove Network I would agree from a creative view, but from the business side, Prince's music wasn't exactly what fit the trend during the 90's. Like the stock market, the trends are the safer investments. Prince needed Warner more than they needed him; the machine can make stars out of anyone as time has show. But anyway, i appreciate the creativity he did with his career. I was inspired.
@@Bryantthewizz, if Warner Brothers had thought Prince's music was not in line with the trends of the 90's , they would not have had him sign a contract on August 31, 1992. They saw potential in his album but they were dishonest about their dealings with him.
Shortly after Prince's death, I read in the Minneapolis Star Tribune in early January 2018 that where Prince had stored unreleased music of his in a vault, it had been removed from his home that he had kept from WB hands. It was reported in this paper that they seized all this. When I read this I was fuming mad. I believe WB was very dishonest about their dealings with Prince which included royalties they owed him still. The family of siblings Prince left behind have been fighting this in court which is why his estate may still be in hock. I hope they sue the hell out of WB because if WB was truly in business with this musical genius, they would have not tried to cheat Prince out of his royalties, as well as intellectual property which he should own! Congress had written provisional laws to protect artists like Prince and George Clinton, Sly Stone and Nina Simone from major copywrite, trademark, and intellectual property issues stemming from false business dealings with record companies like WB and Sony.
I loved this video
Thanks! Trying to give some useful info in between the fun bits 😂
I watched this video twice to better understand some things. So, Prince apparently pulled back on the deal that he initially agreed with, right? What I still don't understand is what made the deal so unfavorable to him. As for the output during that 92 and after timeframe, I remember being a fan that eagerly anticipated each of his releases only to be disappointed that it didn't give me the same music feeling that I had from the music he put out from 78-86. There were a few bangers, but like many fans, I wanted something more on the standard he had set. At least this video helps me to understand why creatively Prince's work wasn't that strong. It was just a release of work that was in the vault. It was nothing new. I guess it all confirms how complicated the industry is and how it can zap an artist's energy and spirit.
What about the 2014 contract.
Prince is temperamental. known for his grand over the top tempertantrums.#Afriend2
and that's part of his appeal. :)
I heard about that he wanted control on putting or releasing his albums when Warner Brothers said no? Prince went by the symbol and wrote the word slave on his face because of the way the record company was treating him.
Interesting review. Don't know if you have seen the documentary called 'Slave Trade - How Prince re-made the music business'. It documents his post 80s period right up to 3rd Eye Girl with a big chunk on him leaving WB, predicting the rise of the web etc. Recommended. Have mixed feelings on his 90s output. His quality control was all over the place, making the albums less consistent IMHO
Good information
I remember seeing albums like come, the gold experience, chaos and disorder in record stores and nobody brought it, not even promoted, I didnt even hear those albums til downloading on the internet began. I think those mid 90s albums after the love symbol were irrelevant, not his best stuff at all. And that in my personal opinion is when he diminished as an artist, he spent too much time putting warner on blast and fightning them in the media than focusing on making the best music possible for the fans.
But The Gold Experience had Gold, Shhh and Eye Hate U. Great songs
Is it a coincidence that Prince's recording career started to slip (and never really recovered) when he got rid of his managers, started his feud with warner brothers, changed his name & changed labels? It seems to me he had no business people giving him advice at this point or he just wasn't listening. Warners refused to release the 3 LP crystal ball album a few years before. Why did he think they would let him release the 3 CD the dawn album?
+Brian Inglis it depends on what you mean by slipping. In later years Prince sold less albums sure, but it was mostly due to poor promotion and possibly distribution channels imo. The music was always top-notch and he stilled banked off those albums pretty damn well since he was selling direct and keeping the majority of profits.
Yesss!
Prince's friend - everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have been collecting everything prince i could get my hands on since 1986 when I was 13 years old trawling second hand record stores (no internet back then) in Sydney Australia for every album, b-side, extended version etc. in my opinion prince's post warners feud albums were always disappointing. (I bought every one of them when they came out hoping he'd got his mojo back) the only 2 good albums were in my opinion - the rainbow children (despite the JW speeches) and his last album hit n run phase 2 (a return to his 70s roots).
If I may, was it that Prince wanted more money or that he wanted others not responsible for it (making the music) to not have as much (of the money). At the end of the day, seems to me like he chose to make potentially less $ but shared in a fairer way in between people actually involved.