We came across this ’99 video in our Old School stash and just HAD to post it because we’re not accustomed to seeing Prince talk like this. He was publicly airing out how jacked up the music industry is and how he and other artists, especially African American artists, get exploited.
You gotta check out the video below, and in case you’re reading this at work, you can read everything that Prince said in this video on the next page.
[pull_quote_center]Jimi Hendrix made a lot of music…it should stay in his family. Miles Davis made a lot of music…it should stay in his family. I DONE MADE A LOT OF MUSIC…it should stay in MY family. When will WE get paid?[/pull_quote_center]
This further explains why he stopped using his name in the late 90’s and wrote slave across his face when he felt like a slave to his record label – Warner Brothers. Although Prince has recently broke his decades long bout of being an independent artist and resigned with Warner earlier this year for a very lucrative deal, he still says he will NEVER be trapped inside of another “slave-like” contract again.
In my humble opinion, there’s a difference between fair practice and outright highway robbery (figuratively speaking). Yes, record labels should be compensated for their marketing, product packaging, and promotional efforts – that’s a given. BUT the ARTISTS who actually create the product that allow these label execs to send their kids to Ivy League schools, should be VERY WELL compensated for actually creating the art as well. Besides, when everyone in the situation is happy, everyone can continue to break bread together for a very long time. So we give Prince much respect for fighting the system and ultimately getting making them give him the respect he deserves.
Right on Prince. Your business tactics should be taught in Music business classes in colleges throughout the US.
Right on Prince. Your business tactics should be taught in Music business classes in colleges throughout the US.
If things are still this bad for artists of today, the old school artist were just ROBBED and still being cheated even in death!
If things are still this bad for artists of today, the old school artist were just ROBBED and still being cheated even in death!
That’s the man he did get out of control once but Thank GOD he got control if these new rising stars would only pay attention black folk would be alright from a economic term but leave it to us to go against the grain just my thinking on this topic.
That’s the man he did get out of control once but Thank GOD he got control if these new rising stars would only pay attention black folk would be alright from a economic term but leave it to us to go against the grain just my thinking on this topic.
“The symbolism here is when a song is completed, it’s referred to as a ‘master’ and of course there’s the slave’s boss…” Truer words have not been spoken, As artists we need to control are own art !!!
“The symbolism here is when a song is completed, it’s referred to as a ‘master’ and of course there’s the slave’s boss…” Truer words have not been spoken, As artists we need to control are own art !!!