Prince’s Free CD Gambit

The UK’s Daily Mail has a good roundup of the reactions to Prince giving away his new CD for the price of a newspaper:

‘Here at Time Out Towers, never in a million years did we imagine that we would print the words “The Mail on Sunday is right!” but, on this occasion, it is.’ Time Out

‘He’s made his millions so all he cares about now is getting his music out to as many people as possible.’ Stuart Williams, managing director of Q magazine, on Prince

‘He’s not an official Royal, but Prince is generating more ink in the UK than anyone named William or Harry.’ Rolling Stone

‘It devalues the music and the losers will be new artists who are trying to come through . . . Consumers only have so much listening time in the week and if they receive the new album from Prince then they don’t need to buy new music and will spend their money on something else.’ Kim Bayley, director general, Entertainment Retailers Association

‘It has been roundly criticised as a major blow for an industry already facing rapidly declining CD sales.’ Los Angeles Times

‘Already news of the alliance between the paper and Prince has featured on the BBC Six O’Clock News and in The New York Times.’ The Guardian

‘Sony BMG UK said it decided it was “ridiculous” to go ahead with its own sales launch in light of the newspaper deal, but stood by their star singer, adding they remained “delighted” to be working with him.’ International Herald Tribune

‘After initially criticising Prince and the deal, music and books retailer HMV, which doesn’t normally sell newspapers, decided to sell The Mail on Sunday in its 400-plus stores. Rival retailers were outraged.’ The Post And Courier, Charleston, USA

‘Like it or not, selling the newspaper is the only way to make the Prince album available to our customers.’ HMV spokesman

‘Could this be the way of the future? Last year, fans acquired more than half their music from unpaid sources. So why keep charging for it?’ Newsday, New York

‘As Prince might say, a sign of the times.’ BBC News Magazine

This move by Prince comes as many music industry observers anticipate a move toward a new, ad-sponsored model, where brands underwrite free music content on the web, and via the peer-to-peer networks.

The Daily Mail