Prince: Giving it Away for Free

Prince, the artist formerly known as Symbol, is giving it away for free. Yup that's right, he is about to turn the record industry on it's head, bite the hand that fed it, give it a royal snap back and I say yippee!

In a monumental step, Prince has decided to give away his current/next album for free! At least in the UK that is.

"In two weeks time - on July 15th - The Mail on Sunday will carry the greatest ever newspaper CD giveaway. The complete new 10-track album by rock superstar Prince, called Planet Earth, will be absolutely free inside every copy of the paper... or you can also obtain a copy, if you attend one of Prince's concerts at the O2 Arena, where audiences will all get a free copy too.

If I ask you nicely Planet Janet, would you send me a copy??

Perty pul-leaze!! People are shaking their heads in disbelief, record companies are scoffing at this "new" idea and wonder if HRH thinks that his future albums will be released through regular channels in the future. Some of the comments seem almost threatening and yet the UK will not be selling his record at all.

"It is an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career. It is yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music."

Oh really? Do you not think Prince knows exactly what he is doing? That this calculated move will forever launch him into the category of "The Artist Who Changed the Industry?" Do you not think he is more loyal to his fans than to the record companies, after all his fans are the one's that purchased the albums. I say you are just upset because you are not gonna reap the profits from this album... oh well, get over it!

But Prince, whose Purple Rain album sold more than 11 million copies, has always kept control of his own music and is adamant that he wants as many fans as possible to share it. Columbia Records, who will sell the CD at full price elsewhere in the world, chose to withdraw the disc from retailers when it became aware of Prince's plans.

Featuring ten new tracks, Prince wants all his fans to benefit and is trying to ensure that happens by giving back. Dear Prince, could you add a copy in the Toronto Star. I want one too, pul-leaze!! What do you all think... is this a good thing? Do you think we will be able to download it for free? Will Prince revolutionize the industry? Will other artists follow suit?