My Way or Norway: Prince Sues to Obliterate Tribute Album

...Who's "Prince"?

@Anonymous Hollywood blacklist dodger:

I think he's the "Chocolate Rain" guy...

@galarant:
Don't you mean the "Raspberry Bidet" guy?

I think Prince and Metallica sit around trying to figure out who can sue the most fans, instead of being creative.

Prince: "WAAAHHH!!! People like my music! WAHHHH!!!"

Why can't they just make peace and have some pancakes?

Even though C+C Records are in the wrong for not paying the licensing fees to cover Prince's tunes I think he's ignoring the cost of the fans he might lose. Personally I don't care because Prince hasn't put out a solid album in 20 years. But still...

Hold up, go to the site and listen to the songs,. Holy shit, they sound like a bunch of dunken, midgets singing into trash cans while playing a harmonica. Hillarious!!!!!!

I think Prince has gone overboard recently regarding copyright, etc., but in this case I'm on his side. The label was supposed to pay him for the cover songs. They didn't. And now they're going to pretend that they didn't think they owed him anything?? Give me a break. If I were Prince I'd be upset too.

Mo money! Mo money! MO MONEY FOOR MEhEEEhEEEEEe! yEAH!

Greedy SOB.

the drawing instead of saying "the purple one" should say "the ungrateful one"
if he have a problem with people liking his music, no problem, we will support his idea, from now on, nobody is going to like his music, that is going to make him feel better.

I have no doubt that this mess is coming directly from Prince himself and not from his management or label.

That's why I love Prince - he's crazy as a shithouse rat. He acts crazy even (maybe especially) when it works against his best interest. I mean, he's not really burning up the charts these days. You'd think he'd be honored that someone made a tribute album for him.

I think he may be turning into the 21st century Phil Specter with all his lawsuits and craziness.

Seems pretty smart to me. If you want to generate a bit of publicity, filing a lawsuit has got to be pretty cheap compared to an all-out media campaign.

Can someone please clarify....should the license fee be paid no matter what OR only if they generate money from the albums? I think that is what this case comes down to.

This is all a marketing move by Prince. The guy is an excentric genious!
I expect him to demand a higher amount of money per album, so that all of this publicity scam is worthwhile.

Prince is a bad motherfucker (there is a reason so many musicians wanted to cover his music pro bono). This copyright control is part of his history. Remember, these laws fucked him so bad he could not use his own "name". Now he plays the game to keep from getting fucked again and we give him a hard time for it. Shame on us. His litigiousness focuses attention on these laws which are such a problem for so many. To Princes I say only, "Thank you!"

What a douche bag this sucker is. An excentric genius (as someone previously put it)? No, he's just a f*ing a&&h0l3.....

I think the word you're looking for is "eccentric".

I mourn for our dying language.

and "genius"

give the guy a break! He did loose his name for a decade because of copyright so he's just looking out for himself these days.

What's with all the haters on this thread? The law is set up to protect songwriters and artists; Prince created the songs and under the law he is supposed to get a crappy 10 cents per song if somebody covers one. C+C is ripping him off, plain and simple. C+C is SELLING the CDs. It doesn't matter if they haven't turned a PROFIT yet despite their little illegal cost-cutting strategy of not paying the licensing fees. C+C's claim to the contrary is patently ridiculous. None of this should be remotely controversial to anyone with an ounce of brains, so LAY OFF!

Motherfucker's lucky anybody gives a shit about him anymore, he should smile and be nice, not whine like the little bitch he is.

Wait, I thought this guy was "the artist formerly known as Prince" after he changed his name to an anhk symbol...

He couldn't use his name because of copyright problems?

What this all adds up to is the fact that Prince - the artist formerly known as Prince - ankh - whatever is a nobody that no one remebers...

I thought he quit music, Oh well, his whinging is only going to make it spread faster.

i like this

Fvck Prince. He used to be good... or at least I thought he was good when I was 12 and had no taste. The first mistake these cover artists made was making a tribute to Prince because there is no reason to make a tribute to some washed-up has-been.

Oh, and fvck Metallica too.

he is not so smart or genious if he is doing this for publicity.
not all publicity is good.
look what happened to Metallica, it generated a lot of publicity but because of that negative publicity nobody buys their albums, they lost even their hardcore fans.
golden rule: you don't attack people who likes your music.

Listening to those myspace medleys... There surely are some jewels in there. And so nice to hear such an abundance of familiar songs so saturated in eclectisism.

In other news: Metallica and Prince start independent label called "FuKuFans Records".

One, a license to sell music is a license, not sure 'bout over seas but in the us, sure as crap, would be a law-suit, no matter how well intentioned the project was, they didn't pay the proper royalties, now throw an overseas spin and the law governing that country and I'd say there might be room for error.

Second, I agree w/ just about everyone, the biggest way to get free publicity is to scream bloody hell about it, the more you complain, the more "interest" (and I say Free Interest) is generated and thus ppl are more inclined to go and review.

I also find it rather odd that Prince basically is going to sue, but the company has yet to take down the material and is offering it to the world for listening? This is why I think its a brilliant tactic by Prince. I'll sue, generate some publicity for me, the distribution company is looking good b/c they "thought" (wow), and ppl are going to their site (wonder if the prince album is the very first item on their homepage).

But then also in retrospect, who the hell listens to Prince these days?

I was curious where the $0.10 per song came from?

Also, would they have to pay the royalty if they performed it live and let the crowd record it? I had thought that some artists/events allow for bootlegs (Grateful Dead, Phish, etc.), and that in that circumstance they could be distributed for free.

Thus, what Prince is really against would be people making money off of his music under the guise of 'Happy Birthday!'. If someone mailed me a birthday card but charged the postage to me, I'd burn it too...

(disclaimer: not really a Prince fan, but I do enjoy playing devil's advocate)

Come on - like Prince doesn't have enough money. He has mad talent and I am not saying he shouldn't be compensated for his music sales but suing for a tribute to his 50th birthday - he should be honored that he still has fans at 50. Prince, Kanye whining about Bonorroo.... Just like Lil Wayne saying FU to DJs - you never get too big to screw your supporters.

crazy stuff. How is this an homage to prince, when there were not planning to pay him any royalties? This looks like this was about using Prince's name and songs to promote their own artists.

And they didn't secure the rights in advance.

The my space site says it's a limited production of 5000 copies.. which mean they couldn't afford to pay the 40,000$ to Prince. Kinda cheap for a label. And quite a display of their respect for copyright and royalties.

Never let anyone in the music industry give you the excuse "but no one is making money from this!"

@ many of you : if no one listens to Prince, why are thieves at C+C having people record his music - wiothout permission or payment - and then selling it ?
@manymoreof you : how is it a "tribute" if you do not ask, and do not acknowledge, and do not pay ? This is simply theft of property, and Prince has no recourse but to use the courts to stop the theft. The fact that he gets free publicity is just a fair bonus.

I think Prince might have chosen better not to bother this company, but his thinking is not totally off. Anyone could record a bunch of Prince covers and then release them for their own promotional purposes, make money off of him and not share it with him. This isnt about fans in a basement downloading. This is about a company creating a product that uses his image/creativity.
Prince doesnt really need free publicity especially of the 5,000 limited box set variety. He's already huge. Plus he's done stuff like bundle an album with a freakin newspaper! He's definitely not a dinosaur.

In summation: he's right on principle but maybe he should have left this company alone.

Just so we are all on the same page. This 5 disc tribute set is selling for around $60 US. They aren't distributing this for free - they're trying to make money off of it and, as such, they should pay the license fee.

This isn't a small company trying to strike a blow against onerous copyright laws. Its a company trying to get out of paying fair compensation to a person they profess to admire.

You write a song or I write a song or Prince writes a song and they are protected by copyright laws. The Copyright laws are there so that others can't rip off our work by using it without permission and/or without paying for the right.

The scum here are the ones that are blantantly breaking the law.

Prince is in the right and is protecting his property just like any other songwriter or property owner would do.

No He's a douchebag... regardless of the legal ramifications, he is just one of the many idealistic blights on the world of music. He doesn't deserve the respect that has been offered to him in the past. As with many other artists, his ego has outweighed his credibility.

I say this from the perspective of being a DJ, whereas in Canada I have to be licensed to play music, these license fee's are provided back to the artist for the use of their music. If I buy their original music media and want to run as a purely digital dj, The purply headed wonder is just one artist that will forbid the digital reproduction of his works. Remeber - even if I buy the original media, where I have paid to use a legal copy. He is still getting his cut and wants to be a prick.

As previous said: Fvck him , he doesn't get any representation in my catalog. Along with the people in this list: (to quote George Carlin (RIP) Here's another pack of jackoffs who ought to be strangled in front of their children.) http://www.avla2007.ca/public/docs/avla_restricted_artists_full.pdf

Oh yeah And I agree as above (me not you) Fvck Metallica, If you sympathize with these poor rich retarded bastards then Fvck you too.

since the downfall of the RIAA artists are not getting as much money as they used to. they can't pay for all the luxury like in their golden times before mp3 came. they forgot that making music was for the love of art, not the love of money.
well, they have to get money somehow, and the new available option is suing. they are taking advantage of the new current of copyright infringements to get some money. but who are they going to sue? there's only one source they know to get money. the fans. so if they can't take their money by selling them music, at least they are going to get their money by suing them.

The Artist Formerly Known.

@pissed off DJ...
Why the hell is NIN on that list you posted anyway? If there is one artist that understands the trend of music in the 21st century it's Trent Reznor. He isn't suing any fans, like this purple money-whore.

It's funny how when people talk about the RIAA they say they rob the artist of their money and the artist is who is really getting screwed. So when an artist stands up and say hey guys that shit isnt free people bash him for it. He IS the artist HE made the music THEY are making a profit of HIS work. Remember C+C is only claiming they are not making money. Whats a cover set go for these day anyway (lets say $50 bucks)
$50 x 5000 = $250,000 so far. Hmmm how the hell did they not make a profit of of that? They said they wanted to give him a copy of the album instead. Lets see $25,000 dollars or a copy of your own damn music played by artist that dont do it justice. What the hell would you pick? And dont give me that bull shit that he sucks because according to the charts of his day he was the shit then and STILL has a HUGE following.

Prince should sue these guys into the ground. Nothing but thieves.

what a douche

Genius. I agree. He knows he'll get his 10c/song sold after the lawsuit. The law is on his side. In the meantime, he whips up a shitstorm to get people interested and listen to the album. More money to his Princeness.

who the fuck listens to that fags music anyways ... if it can even be called that ....

all of you bitching about Prince, go to work but don't get paid for it. sounds like fun huh? What a bunch of complete idiots. It's his work, he gets paid, simple.

If you make a tribute Album, of an artist, who cannot stand his old songs, for his birthday, which he no longer partys, because of his new found religious beliefs, you sould not be sourprised, that he sues you.
Prince is a Jehowa's Whitness now, theachings of Jehova's Whitness condemn the lifestyle his old Songs were about, also birthdays are looked on as pagan, oh and wait, Jehova's Whitness condemn all forms of man "cult", a tribute is an offering to a star.
That they did not pay any licensing fees is just a quick way for Prince to stop the worshiping of his former self and the songs he is ashamed of ever having produced.
Nevertheless, nice shunning someone, with out the proper background knowlage.

why is metallica always brought into this shit, napster sucked anyway, use torrents you fags you can download whole albums in under 15 mins, fags

The Mechanical Royalty Rate is currently 9.5 cents per cover tune. This was established by legislation decades ago (not the exact rate, that's gone up by .5 cents every so often, I believe). If you record a cover version of someone else's song, they get 9.5 cents from you for each copy. What's unfair about that? Prince is eccentric, yes, but he's incredibly talented and savvy, and there's no justification for screwing him out of him songwriting royalties.

Haters go die now.

I WOULD SUE !!!!!
PRINCE PUTTING OUT A SOLID ALBUM IN 20 YEARS OR NOT, THIS TRIBUTE IS AN INSULT.IT SOUNDS LIKE SHIT!!
MY HUSBAND PLAYED THE PREVIEW AND I ASKED IF IT WAS A WEIRD AL SPOOF. AMERICAN AND BRITISH ARTIST ( WEVE HEARD OF) SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND PUT ON ANOTHER TRIBUTE BEFORE THEYRE SONG ARE STEPPED ON. IF YOU DON'T AGREE JUST LISTEN TO THE PREVIEW OF
TO PUSSY CONTROL!

The record comany's claim "that no one made any money from the project. As a result, they didn't think they owed Prince anything..." is naive.

Copyright applies whether you make money or not.

I suppose it's worth noting that the artist formerly known as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince" is also the only musician to consistently turn down Weird Al when Al wants to parody his songs. (http://www.weirdal.com/faq.htm)

While Prince may have a valid point, I kind of doubt that whatever settlement he might get out of it will be worth the bad press and hard feelings.

The pathetic loser formerly known as the artist formerly known as prince is releasing a new album next quarter, aptly named "my fans were stupid bleeding pigs, until i chased them away with idiotic frivolous lawsuits over petty legal bullshit". Critics don't expect it to do well.

just to set things straight as far as the Grateful Dead and bootlegs goes : the Grateful Dead, nor any of the members of the band nor management, have ever allowed bootlegging any of their music. they have, and do, allow people to tape their live performances and share those tapes.

a bootleg would be to copy a legally released, or potentially to released, studio or live album or to take a soundboard recording and release it from a recording company which does not possess the legal right to release the artists material(s).

if you don't know what the word means don't guess, look it up.

What a dickhead. Someone kill this man before his levels of douche infect other musicians.

"...claim that no one made any money from the project."

Surely they jest?

Hey little purple nurple dude, you want my copy? Try and take it. I'm in Wisconsin and I have elf traps all over my lawn. Oh, we hang blacks here too. So itz a lose/lose for ya my little neegra. HAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Like he said, in somebody else's words....I'm just a creep...

BTW I am no way connected to the idiot Al Barfel... Are your parents related Barf?

i would sue too. most of those are just awful

Albert Burfel coming to get my copy

I think forums like this one, have the potential to stir up some decent/constructive discussion. That said, more often you see people venting with "witty" quips, just to sound...well "witty." Every so often you find someone who uses this medium to speak out HATE Mongering, Backwards thinking, Unintelligible Elephant Dung!!! ie: ALBERT BURFEL's comment! I'm ashamed for him.

Prince and Metallica should get together with the RIAA and throw a douchebag party or maybe have a contest to see who is the biggest ass.

Man, Prince is clearly all about the LOLZ. No other 'recording artiste' gets as uppety as him. I reckon he's doing it all for a new reality TV show, "Mockin' The World - The Purple Way", and he'll reveal that it's all been a convoluted, non-funny joke. Probably.

Joe - www.anewbandaday.com

Prince is one of the most bootlegged artists around, so I totally get him getting pissed off at a number of mediocre people deciding to do a 'tribute'. I wouldn't just sue, I'd kill their plants, too.