Prince’s latest album was launched in the U.K. on Sunday as a free CD with the Sunday Mail in a move that has drawn widespread criticism from music retailers.
One music store executive described the plan as “madness” while others said it was a huge insult to an industry battling fierce competition from supermarkets and online stores. Prince’s label has cut its ties with the album in the UK to try to appease music stores.
The Entertainment Retailers Association said the giveaway “beggars belief”. “It would be an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career,” ERA co-chairman Paul Quirk told a music conference. “It would be yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music.
“The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday.”
High street music giant HMV was similarly scathing about the plans. Speaking before rumours of a giveaway were confirmed, HMV chief executive Simon Fox said: “I think it would be absolutely nuts. I can’t believe the music industry would do it to itself. I simply can’t believe it would happen; it would be absolute madness.”
While record companies bemoan lagging sales, it is difficult to be sympathetic when they talk about sales dropping from $1 billion a year to $920 million a year when they’ve been making a killing on record sales for many years.
And what about this: “It would be an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career”? “Supported [him] throughout his career”? The sold his albums because they knew they would make money off him. They did not support Prince. They made money off of his creativity. Yes, that’s how the system works and that’s fine. But don’t try to take some moral high ground claiming you supported Prince throughout his career.
You didn’t support him when he was an unknown musician. You sold his album after you realized he could earn you millions of dollars. And as far as Prince becoming known as the “Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores,” give it a rest. You’ll continue to sell his albums for as long as people are buying them and he continues to make money for you and your shareholders.
Add to the mix that they’re his songs and as long as he continue to own the copyrights in them, he can do whatever the hell he wants with them. That’s it. You may not like it, but that’s the way it is. Get over it and put the new album in the street-front window.
