"The Internet's [as] Completely Over [as my career]."

Via Instapundit and Boing Boing comes word from the artist once again known as Prince:

"The internet's completely over. 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. The internet's like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated.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."

More here.

Let the redacted video of Batdance commence!

Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

How is the dauphine going to distribute the truth about chemtrails without using the internets?

[Abdul]

C'mon, intenet. Pay Prince an advance. Carpeting your ceiling with hand-knitted purple llama hair ain't cheap, you know.

[ClubMedSux]

Of course it's not cheap... Have you seen how much a hand-knitted purple llama goes for these days?

[Bugs]

The 80s - were they really necessary?

[txgypsy]

to rid us of disco,polyester and shag carpeting......hell yesss!!!!

[?]

Prince is inarticulate, but do you not feel the over-ness? It's here.

[DRM]

To quote a comment on Althouse:

--

The Artist Formerly Known As "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince", responsible for the song "1999", is saying something's over and outdated.

Well, I mean, he would know, right?

--

[Irrational Hater]

Prince puts his money where his mouth is, and actually *can* and does make money by selling his product without online music sales.

In 2007 he not only ditched online sales, but ditched concert promoters too. He rented the Roosevelt hotel in Los Angeles and played there for a week or so. Small, small space, but *packed* with A-list celebs and true fans.

The royal midget played his hits for about an hour or so, then moved to the lobby where he played jazz funk until 3:30am. He was mingling with the crowd, playing and dancing with them.

It was the best concert I've ever been to, and it was an experience that definitely can't be downloaded (or torrented).

Front section tickets were $3,121 per pair. 70 standing room only tickets were $312 per pair, and it was sold out. So he did it his way and made bank.

Yes, I like Prince. No homo.

[Bronwyn]

Wow. "No homo."

I wonder if my friend knew she was anticipating an urbanism 25 years ago, when we were passing notes in school and she signed hers, "Love ya! No homo!"

/random trip down memory lane

[ClubMedSux]

I admire Prince's musical genius, but the guy's a douche. You can use that statement for many artists (Bob Dylan immediately comes to mind).

Yet another reason to love Willie Nelson... Musical genius and the exact opposite of a douche.

[Irrational Hater]

Just did the math: he probably grossed at least $1.3 million for a total of four nights' work. And all the costs were under his direct control. Not bad for doing what he loves.

[Lamar]

Having a celebrity who is already established say "the internet is over" is pretty silly. If Prince had to make a name for himself today, he'd fail if he rejected the internet.

[Irresponsible Hater]

True, but the theory that he's calling the internet sour grapes because he's a has-been who can't make internet sales misses your point too. I'm pretty sure he knows he is established. He *can* and *does* sell his music without online music sales, *and* captures all the revenue directly.

Also, making a name for yourself on the internet is hard enough, getting paid well for it is another. What is OK go's revenue model? 1: Upload viral hit 2: ??? 3: profit! They are a perfect example of internet music breakthrough sensation, but they've probably earned iTunes more money than they've cleared themselves. Which is the Purple One's chief complaint.

[Pro Libertate]

Say what you want, but the man plays a mean game of basketball. And makes an excellent pancake.

[Prince]

....bitches

[Lamar]

I'm back to physical media. Itunes is OK for a random song here and there, but I stopped downloading albums altogether.

[Trent Reznor]

WTF, Prince? It's like I don't even know you anymore.

[Joshua]

I like a lot of Prince's stuff, but he did a "march" for the Vikings last year, and it was absolutely horrid.

[AT]

Know were I read about the internet being over? On the internet.

[Princely Sum]

Motherfucker's taking the piss.

YES, he's crazy. He believes in chemtrails and shit, and he's a Jehovah's Witness, and he's out of it gourd. BUT, in this instance I honestly believe he's having a bit of fun.

Crazy does not equal stupid, and stupid is one thing Prince most decidedly is not.

[?]

If he's an artist who enjoys complete control over his own work, then he's smarter than 99.99% of all pop musicians who have ever lived.

[gaoxiaen]

Prince who?

[gaoxiaen]

The guy with purple hair or someting like that?

[Rhywun]

I love when artists get so self-important and out-of-touch, they forget how artists get big in the first place.

[?]

It seems to me that Prince hasn't forgotten how he got "big," but rather that he's rejecting the old model and creating a new one.

[Rhywun]

The "new model" only works if you already have legions of fans at your command.

[Les]

Prince is completely nuts, but Nick's suggestion that his career is over is just wishful thinking on his part. Not only is Prince raking in the bucks, but, unlike, say, someone like Elton John, he's doing it while not sucking at all. You may not care for his music, but the quality of his players, his playing, and his funkitudity is as high as ever.

[Almanian]

Not gonna lie - he even rocked at the Super Bowl, which is saying something.

[Almanian]

I dunno, I think this internet thing is going to catch on pretty soon.

Over? Over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!

[R C Dean]

I suspect the rather large amount of attention he is getting for this is just what he wanted.

[Suprashoesweb]

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