Prince (August 5, 1997) – “Prince makes music, remakes marketing” Feature – Star Tribune

The 5 August 1997 edition of the Star Tribune reprints a New York Times feature examining how Prince is using the internet and telephone orders to release and market his music independently.

Publication: Star Tribune

Date: August 5, 1997

Country: United States

Written by Neil Strauss, the article discusses Prince’s plan to release a four-CD live collection called “Crystal Ball” only after receiving 100,000 orders via telephone and website.

It details his desire for greater control over recording, manufacturing and distribution after leaving Warner Bros., the advantages of taking all the proceeds, and comments from his business partner Londell McMillan.

A photograph of Prince accompanies the text, with the caption noting that the next CD is a call-and-response setup on the Internet.

CONTEXT AND NOTES 

The piece focuses on Prince’s independent business model and the forthcoming “Crystal Ball” project during the late 1990s.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Business and marketing feature Era: 1997 (Crystal Ball / Emancipation period) Tone: Analytical, reportorial Photography: Black-and-white portrait of Prince

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Headline “Prince makes music, remakes marketing”

• Details of the 100,000-order requirement for “Crystal Ball”

• Discussion of independent control and internet/telephone distribution

• Photograph of Prince with accompanying caption

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