Prince and the covermount

[Grumpmeister]

After hearing about this on the news earlier I'm intrigued, an internationally famous musician gives away his new album stuck to the front of the Mail on Sunday. Cynical publicity stunt or the result of realising that the public is less likely to pay through the nose for music now

The music industry has reacted angrily at a decision to give away the new album by US musician Prince with a tabloid newspaper.
Planet Earth will be given free with a future edition of the Mail on Sunday.

The 10-track CD from Prince - whose hits include Purple Rain, Sign O' The Times and Cream - is not due to be released until 24 July.

Paul Quirk, co-chairman of the Entertainment Retailers Association, said the decision "beggars belief".

"The Artist formerly known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores," said Mr Quirk, referring to a period in the 1990s when Prince famously stopped using his name in favour of a symbol.

  No one has done this before... this is just setting a new level

Stephen Miron, Mail on Sunday MD

"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."

The practice of "covermounts" - where newspapers attempt to lure readers with DVDs and CDs - is used widely in the industry.

The Mail on Sunday's recent CD giveaways include Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, UB40 and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.

Stephen Miron, the newspaper's managing director, said: "No one has done this before. We have always given away CDs and DVDs, but this is just setting a new level."

Out of business

Mr Miron declined to say how much the newspaper had paid to secure the deal.

He added that the newspaper was not out to put music retailers out of business.

"They are living in the old days and haven't developed their businesses sufficiently. We can enhance their business. They are being incredibly insular and need to move their business on," he said.

But HMV chief executive Simon Fox has said it would be "absolutely nuts" to give the album away for free.

The company revealed on Thursday that its profits had more than halved in the face of cut-price competition from supermarkets and online retailers.

The deal has also led to the UK arm of Sony BMG pulling out of the distribution agreement.

"Given the sheer number of copies we are talking about here it seemed the right thing to do for retailers to become exempt from the deal in the UK," said a spokesman for Sony BMG, the world's second-biggest music company.

Prince is due to play 21 concert dates in London later this year.

[Snoopy]

After hearing about this on the news earlier I'm intrigued, an internationally famous musician gives away his new album stuck to the front of the Mail on Sunday. Cynical publicity stunt or the result of realising that the public is less likely to pay through the nose for music now

The music industry has reacted angrily at a decision to give away the new album by US musician Prince with a tabloid newspaper.
Planet Earth will be given free with a future edition of the Mail on Sunday.

The 10-track CD from Prince - whose hits include Purple Rain, Sign O' The Times and Cream - is not due to be released until 24 July.

Paul Quirk, co-chairman of the Entertainment Retailers Association, said the decision "beggars belief".

"The Artist formerly known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores," said Mr Quirk, referring to a period in the 1990s when Prince famously stopped using his name in favour of a symbol.

  No one has done this before... this is just setting a new level

Stephen Miron, Mail on Sunday MD

"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."

The practice of "covermounts" - where newspapers attempt to lure readers with DVDs and CDs - is used widely in the industry.

The Mail on Sunday's recent CD giveaways include Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton, Duran Duran, UB40 and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.

Stephen Miron, the newspaper's managing director, said: "No one has done this before. We have always given away CDs and DVDs, but this is just setting a new level."

Out of business

Mr Miron declined to say how much the newspaper had paid to secure the deal.

He added that the newspaper was not out to put music retailers out of business.

"They are living in the old days and haven't developed their businesses sufficiently. We can enhance their business. They are being incredibly insular and need to move their business on," he said.

But HMV chief executive Simon Fox has said it would be "absolutely nuts" to give the album away for free.

The company revealed on Thursday that its profits had more than halved in the face of cut-price competition from supermarkets and online retailers.

The deal has also led to the UK arm of Sony BMG pulling out of the distribution agreement.

"Given the sheer number of copies we are talking about here it seemed the right thing to do for retailers to become exempt from the deal in the UK," said a spokesman for Sony BMG, the world's second-biggest music company.

Prince is due to play 21 concert dates in London later this year.

Cynically I point out that the MoS have paid mightily for this giveaway which is money in the bank for Prince which he would not have got if he's put it out via the net. Prince has a history of doing strange things in retaliation against record companies with whom he has fallen out. His original record company allegedly refused to distribute this album. Dolly Parton among others has done this recently to promote an upcoming tour and Prince has a UK tour starting in Sept I believe. Many of the large record stores are open tomorrow and have, according to "informed sources" quoted by the BBC, placed large orders for the MoS.
Good Marketing all round I'd say.
Personally I cannot stand the shortarsed little warbler and would rather eat soap than listen to him but I expect my kids will want the CD. Fortunately they all have headphones!

[Grumpmeister]

I notice the Mail on Sunday nopw wants to change the album chart rules so that the covermout can be entered in the charts. I'm not sure how thats going to work though, how can you tell who buys the paper for the CD and who buys it because they are raving lunatics.

[Snoopy]

I notice the Mail on Sunday nopw wants to change the album chart rules so that the covermout can be entered in the charts. I'm not sure how thats going to work though, how can you tell who buys the paper for the CD and who buys it because they are raving lunatics.

As the MoS is the favoured reading of a certain DP Dance I wonder what he'll do with his copy of the CD ~ put it on eBay I 'spect.

[Grumpmeister]

Nah, probably complain that the free shaving mirror that came with his paper has a hole in the middle 

[Barman]

I?m confused with all this name changing thing and you can call me this and you can?t call me that and the artist formally known as whatever?. Can we call him dippy or not? 

[Snoopy]

I?m confused with all this name changing thing and you can call me this and you can?t call me that and the artist formally known as whatever?. Can we call him dippy or not? 

If the cap fits etc ............... 

[Barman]

I?m confused with all this name changing thing and you can call me this and you can?t call me that and the artist formally known as whatever?. Can we call him dippy or not? 

If the cap fits etc ............... 

[Misunderstood]

Aside from all the hype from this I did love this bit.

"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."

In English that reads: "The bastard is cutting us out of the profit chain."  Boo Hoo.


We all know the value of music, it's the unacceptable profits that are attached to it that has always been the problem.

They are all too rich and fat and have been for far too long, they are greedy and self serving, suddenly we all realise the possibility of Artist direct to public distribution is possible and they are crapping themselves. Their 'gravy train' is under threat, DRM is increasingly likely to fail soon and now Artists can go direct,  next issue movies and books... ? 
 

[Snoopy]

Aside from all the hype from this I did love this bit.

"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."

In English that reads: "The bastard is cutting us out of the profit chain."  Boo Hoo.


We all know the value of music, it's the unacceptable profits that are attached to it that has always been the problem.

They are all too rich and fat and have been for far too long, they are greedy and self serving, suddenly we all realise the possibility of Artist direct to public distribution is possible and they are crapping themselves. Their 'gravy train' is under threat, DRM is increasingly likely to fail soon and now Artists can go direct,  next issue movies and books... ? 
 

On the subject of books available for free have you tried this?
Older books only at the moment but the list grows all the time.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

[Misunderstood]

Aside from all the hype from this I did love this bit.

"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."

In English that reads: "The bastard is cutting us out of the profit chain."  Boo Hoo.


We all know the value of music, it's the unacceptable profits that are attached to it that has always been the problem.

They are all too rich and fat and have been for far too long, they are greedy and self serving, suddenly we all realise the possibility of Artist direct to public distribution is possible and they are crapping themselves. Their 'gravy train' is under threat, DRM is increasingly likely to fail soon and now Artists can go direct,  next issue movies and books... ? 
 

On the subject of books available for free have you tried this?
Older books only at the moment but the list grows all the time.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

Added to my 'Bookmarks'.  Thank you

I use http://audiobooksforfree.com

[Snoopy]

Aside from all the hype from this I did love this bit.

"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."

In English that reads: "The bastard is cutting us out of the profit chain."  Boo Hoo.


We all know the value of music, it's the unacceptable profits that are attached to it that has always been the problem.

They are all too rich and fat and have been for far too long, they are greedy and self serving, suddenly we all realise the possibility of Artist direct to public distribution is possible and they are crapping themselves. Their 'gravy train' is under threat, DRM is increasingly likely to fail soon and now Artists can go direct,  next issue movies and books... ? 
 

On the subject of books available for free have you tried this?
Older books only at the moment but the list grows all the time.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

Added to my 'Bookmarks'.  Thank you

I use http://audiobooksforfree.com

That's cool ~ I too have pushed the Bookmark button.

[Sour Puss]

On the subject of books available for free have you tried this?
Older books only at the moment but the list grows all the time.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

 tunble:Thank you pup - I may even get around to forgiving you for not liking us cute widdle kitties - I have not read White Fang since I was in School.  I am going to enjoy this.

  I three have pushed the bookmark button. 

[Bar Wench]

Me too! Anywhere that has L M Montgomery's back catalogue for perusing whilst at work is a good thing.

[Snoopy]

On the subject of books available for free have you tried this?
Older books only at the moment but the list grows all the time.
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/

 tunble:Thank you pup - I may even get around to forgiving you for not liking us cute widdle kitties - I have not read White Fang since I was in School.  I am going to enjoy this.

  I three have pushed the bookmark button. 

I have taken the liberty of pointing out what it is that I dislike about cats