PREACH IT! Prince declares Internet 'completely over,' Web somehow continues to function

Speaking unto the people the other day, Prince announced that the Internet is "completely over," indicating that the time has come for his loyal subjects to return to the era of the hard copy.

Prince has a new album coming out, see, but don’t look for it on iTunes or such. If the people want to hear Prince’s word delivered unto them, they must venture forth from their huts and villages and pick up a CD. (Fans might be able to find the album online and have it shipped -- U.S. distribution is still being worked out -- but then again, that would involve the Internet. So if you go that route, fine, but expect to be banned from Paisley Park forever.)

"The Internet's like MTV," the 52-year-old legend told the UK's Daily Mirror. "At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated. Anyway, all these computers and digital gadgets are no good. They just fill your head with numbers and that can't be good for you."

The name of Prince’s new album? "20TEN." We’ll give you a second to process that one. Also: No word on whether Prince sees a CD player as a "digital gadget."

"I just think it's a year that really matters," Prince said about his new album title. "These are very trying times. People, especially young people, don't have enough God in their lives."

As for exactly why the Internet is “over?” Well, because no one on the Net will get with the Prince business model, that’s why.

"I don't see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won't pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can't get it."

-- Leslie Gornstein

Photo: Prince performs in Denmark on July 4. Credit: Jens Dige / European Pressphoto Agency

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Comments

[tt]

Interesting marketing - he is no dummy. By not be able to get his music over the internet makes it more valuable - economics: supply and demand.

[KE]

By not making his tracks available for 99 cents on iTunes Prince is inviting people to steal them. It only takes one person to upload the CD to a file sharing site (where millions will pass it along). Not quite sure what Prince is thinking. Limit how people get content in this digital age, and they'll simply say "screw it" and download it for free. "Interesting marketing" indeed.

[billy101]

Prince won't put his tracks up on iTunes because "they won't pay me an advance for it"? Jeez, doesn't the guy have like a gazillion dollars or something? How about this, Prince: What if you put your music on iTunes, and if I like the 30-second clip, I'll buy the song. If I like lots of the clips, maybe I'll buy the whole album.

Asking for an advance before you can even hear a single song is like releasing your movie without allowing a screening for reviewers. Like anyone else, I would immediately suspect that the artist is trying to pull a fast one on me.

[James]

I, for one, am looking forward to downloading Princes new album on the day of release!

[Mark K Bilbo]

"Internet declares Prince 'completely over'. Entire generation responds, 'Who's Prince?'"

Huh. At one time, Prince was cool, then suddenly...

[Synnamin]

In general, I prefer to buy my music in CD or digital form, but I want to listen to it first. However, if an artist is trying to present himself as an asshat, then any guilt I might feel about downloading the album for free becomes minuscule.

Not that I would download Prince's new album. Asshattery makes me lose respect in general for the person and his work.

[kaneforgov]

Nothing like trying to move backwards.

Prince has officially moved from musician to businessman.

[Dione Robertson]

Prince.......2 decades in the game and still running it!! Love the comments in the interview; "the internet is over".

Nothing like a vague statement to make people talk, hype him up; just when he is dropping an album. That is a way to sell when media/the public is more interested in what you're saying instead of what you're doing.

Take notes from the master; when selling your art you can comment on common events for extra ink.....no need to go to prison for free media coverage!!!!

[Nathan Butler]

Prince is talking music business to people who don't understand it - I was in on a discussion yesterday with Kevin Lyman (founder of the Warped Tour) and Martin Atkins (Tour:Smart) about how the market seems to be shifting back to physical, and that scarcity makes products more valuable. As for the advance, I couldn't agree more - record companies used to give advances to bands all the time to make a record, kind of like investors buy into a startup company before there is a building built - it's not that weird of an idea.
Here is the real deal... staying at home is boring, download cards suck, and seriously, are you going to give your kids a hard drive with downloads of your favorite cover art on it? Posterity is making those old records seem way ahead of the curve - Go Prince!

[Michael]

I noticed the new ‘L’ tattoo on Prince’s forehead. I remember when you were relevant. Still stuck in 1999 and waiting to the download to begin.

[Jason]

If he hadn't made these comments, I would not have known he even had an album coming out. Any press is good press right?

[jaylen]

Prince sucks.

[KatieM]

You know what else is "completely over"? Prince

[Onasis Fluis]

The fact remains, Prince stands to make MUCH more money from his current arrangement with the news papers internationally than he would if he were trying to sell the albums in the traditional manner or via the internet. The real money for artists is in touring anyway. So he's getting two pay days several times over this summer. One from the papers signing the exclusive distribution deals, and second from the ticket sales and advances for the huge festivals he's playing. People who will download torrents of his album will have done it anyway, regardless of their availability on iTunes or Amazon...