Rock & Roll Daily, Your non-stop music news source.
Previous Next Latest

Prince Teams With Target to Release Three New Albums as $11.99 Bundle

3/3/09, 9:23 am EST

Photo: Wyman/Getty

Prince’s reluctance to release music through a major label won’t prevent him from teaming up with a major retailer. The singer has inked an exclusive deal with Target to release all three of his new albums as one three-disc set starting March 29th. The package will bundle both Prince’s guitar-heavy Lotusflow3r and funky MPLSound with Elixir, the debut album by his newest protégé, Bria Valente.

While these big exclusive deals with retailers are partially the reason why there won’t be any more Virgin Megastores come September, it’s hard to complain at the price: Target will offer the three-album bundle for the recession-friendly price of $11.99. So even if you had no interest at all in Elixir, because you probably didn’t, you’re still only paying $11.99. The Prince deal catapults Target into the retailers’ battle over exclusive music, giving them a name as big as Walmart’s AC/DC Black Ice or Eagles Long Road Out of Eden and Best Buy’s ill-fated Chinese Democracy release. So why Target? The press release announcing the partnership gives one big clue: the “Minneapolis-based Target Corporation” is run out of the Purple One’s beloved hometown.

“Prince has long been renowned as one of the world’s most original and iconic musical artists,” said Mark Schindele, Target’s senior vice president of merchandising. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share his most recent work with our Target guests.” Prince also plans to release a whole slew of extras via a membership to his recently launched Lotusflow3r.com Website, which currently features a song from each of the new albums, photos of Valente and a link to Rock Daily’s report from Prince’s Oscar Party. Prince also recently allowed Rock Daily into his awesome Los Angeles mansion to preview the new albums.

Related Stories:

• Prince Breaks Out Beatles, Rolling Stones at Oscar Party
• Prince Unveils Plan to Release Three LPs Via Lotusflow3r Website at Private Gig
• Prince Premieres Four New Songs On L.A.’s Indie 103; New Album On the Way

Daniel Kreps

More General, Rock News


Previous Next Latest

Comments

Schultz | 3/3/2009, 10:23 am EST

Sick!

kristian | 3/3/2009, 10:27 am EST

great news and great price!

Kevin the Robot | 3/3/2009, 11:59 am EST

How about releasing what the fans really want? Morris Day & The Time Greatest Hits. Somebody bring me a mirror!

troof | 3/3/2009, 1:24 pm EST

nice price. hope its good.

T. | 3/3/2009, 1:33 pm EST

These exclusive arrangements are not good news for music stores (as if they didn’t have enough problems).

stupid Prince | 3/3/2009, 1:37 pm EST

,,,great price,,,,,gotta praise the reasonable fee, but, does anyone listen to Prince anymore??

junk is still junk | 3/3/2009, 2:37 pm EST

$11.99 is still not going to bring in the buyers. Junk is still junk no matter the price. This will end up in one those ‘bargain bins,’ for $3.99 or something, underneath all the leftover Christmas albums.

Anonymous | 3/3/2009, 2:51 pm EST

Since all the aging rock stars are getting in the video game business lately, I propose the Prince-themed Assless Chaps Hero.

JP | 3/3/2009, 2:52 pm EST

I’m in line. First of all, it’s a great deal. Second, Target is the department store I usually shop at anyway. They have none of the controversy that Walmart brings on itself. If you are a mild Prince fan, $12 for 3 CD’s is not a steep price to check out what The Purple One been up to lately.

Bunny | 3/3/2009, 5:30 pm EST

Yay! I can’t wait!!

boatman | 3/3/2009, 7:06 pm EST

At a price like that I guess I can afford to stay on the Prince train a little while longer although he hasn’t been taking me as far lately as he used to.

Vinc3nt | 3/4/2009, 4:41 am EST

Monster!

Andy, UK | 3/4/2009, 10:07 am EST

$11.99 is far too expensive. Here in Blighty, we got his last album for free with a Sunday newspaper. Where’s the live album from the 21 night London O2 dates though?

Anonymous | 3/4/2009, 11:27 am EST

I doubt the records are going to be worth the price. He hasn’t put out anything mindblowing in years.

Hopefully I will be proved wrong, but Prince is far more concerned with making a buck than good music.

His new website is going to be a place where people can see his videos, concert footage, interviews, etc.and download music.

As many of you probably know he has made sure nothing of any worth is available on youtube, google video, etc.

Instead of free information he is going to charge $77.00 per person to join his site.

What was he thinking?

tony montana | 3/4/2009, 12:21 pm EST

last truly great prince album:
sign o’ the times 1987!
repressing those urges and emotions due to someone’s beliefs has affected prince’s music because he excelled when he was completely uninhibited.
this is why i doubt these new albums will be creative successes.
what a shame!

robinwood_1999 at ya who | 3/4/2009, 2:46 pm EST

this man is our mozart! Just wait until you are in the rest home and your grandchildren are roller blading down the halls with their purple ipods filled with hundreds of his songs. Please tell me who has changed the sound of music like this guy.

Venus De Milo | 3/4/2009, 2:52 pm EST

Prince is a legend. We are fortunate to have him with us. Of course, his appeal is generational. Anyone born after 1980 kind of missed out on him.

Prince has made his millions and recorded his share of legendary albums. He has nothing left to prove to anybody. He follows his own muse and either you get it or you don’t.

I admit that Prince’s albums have been hit-or-miss in the last decade. However, he renewed my faith with “3121″. That is a return to form for Prince, an amazing album.

…Looking forward to the new stuff. $11.99 is indeed an easy price for three albums.

flow3rboy | 3/6/2009, 9:36 pm EST

umm…ANDY,UK..you ask where is the live record from the London shows? well if you havent heard, he Mr.P included a live CD with his recent book release, its recorded from several aftershows from the 02 Arena… IT IS WORTH BUYING THE BOOK FOR.

flow3rboy | 3/6/2009, 9:40 pm EST

Prince LIVE CD is from the the club at the 02 ARENA-all afterparty recordings…gotta get it…
Prince is the Beatles, Prince is Led Zeppelin,
Prince is
O(-+>,
Prince is Jagger, Prince is you, Prince is me

diesel02 | 3/12/2009, 3:45 pm EST

prince is a smart kid. he should make money off his website.with the lavish he leads,he the extra cash to keep the champagne flowing and the young ho’s blowing.

diesel02 | 3/12/2009, 3:46 pm EST

his music is great. i will buy the 3 -cd set.

princeislove | 3/13/2009, 2:45 pm EST

Prince is the most amazing artist of all time. Either you get him or you don’t.

hrpf ibxnyufqp | 3/19/2009, 2:16 pm EST

igulxm lfcyte owqxksdy lfpozrixn gnxisykr vbfyplk rftaiewgv

O(+> | 3/29/2009, 9:12 am EST

I love prince and I was born in 1991. I’m getting the new album!!! So just because I was born after 1980 doesn’t me someone like me can’t appreciate a legends music!

Stanice Anderson | 4/3/2009, 11:44 am EST

Thank you, Prince. May God’s amazing favor continue to saturate your life and the music that you share with us.

dk | 5/12/2009, 2:11 pm EST

how can i buy the albums, in the website? i cant see where

DLD | 10/7/2009, 11:26 pm EST

prince is a hell a an artist i own all his songs….looking forward for this new one..if your not a fan don’t waste your time buyn it save it for someone who will play it…..

Post A Comment

Caution: Off-topic comments will be deleted

Name:

Comments:

RSS Subscribe to Rolling Stone Rock & Roll Blog feed

See all available RSS feeds / learn more

Advertisement

Advertisement