source;
http://www.podcastingnews.com/2007/07/02/free-prince-music/

~~~“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 Entertainment Retailers Association co-chairman Paul Quirk. “And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday.”~~~

Now that might have been a really poignant statement if it were not for the number of record stores closing down these days...

It's a shame how music and it's value is measured in dollars and cents and not by artist merit and notation.

Money has gone to their heads.

Precisely.

Operative Principle:
The music cartel's big labels has ALWAYS been about profit, not artist support and fairness.

I meant, profitability to the point of exclusion of artist support and fairness.

" Now that might have been a really poignant statement if it were not for the number of record stores closing down these days... "

The record stores themselves have little
support from RIAA members.
The RIAA member bread comes from
the large controllable mass market chains ..
Wal-Mart, Target .. etc ..
Limited shelf space .. mass appeal.
It's much easier for them to control
whats offered at a store like that, than
a music store, which could also offer
COMPETING niche and independent product.

Make no mistake, the RIAA members do not miss the specialty record stores.

That's why the RIAA can even MAKE
such a threat, and actually make it
happen.

thumbs up to Prince, once again he is outside the box, and sticking it to the majors.

Talk about bitting the hand that feeds.
If the industry can't make a profit because one of their artists is giving away free merchandise, their gonna retaliate with more of their nazi-esque tactics.

Besides I really don't think it's necissary for the industry should be up all over this unless the free-UK-newspaper edition whould drastically outweigh Planet Earth CDs that are purchased, like what are the chances of THAT ever happening...

"Talk about bitting the hand that feeds."

Trust me, I'd bite the hand of an RIAA lable if they stuck it to me with their SLAVE contracts like they have done to so many musicians during their tenure. Signing your music with an RIAA label is like getting a mortgage on your home, paying it off, and not getting to own your home.

"Besides I really don't think it's necissary for the industry should be up all over this unless the free-UK-newspaper edition whould drastically outweigh Planet Earth CDs that are purchased"

Then you have to ask the question, 'why IS the industry all over this?' Easy... CD sales are the industry's lifeblood right now. They have FAILED to adapt to the internet and the financial opportunities it provided to the music industry. Pince giving away his CD is just another threat to an out-dated business model that needs to disappear. Which is where all the big labels are heading.