A long‑buried heartbreak anthem resurfaces as an intimate NPG Music Club exclusive RELEASE DETAILS Date: January 4, 2003 Format: Digital Single (MP3 download) Country: Worldwide (NPG Music Club members-only) Track: “Empty Room (Live)” THE STORY Released on January 4, 2003 as a members-only digital download through the NPG Music Club, “Empty Room (Live)” offered fans a rare official glimpse of one of Prince’s most emotionally charged compositions. Originally written and first recorded with The Revolution in August 1985 after an argument with Susannah Melvoin, the song was revisited and re-recorded at Paisley Park in March 1992, though no official studio version has ever been CONTEXT & NOTES Its appearance as a 2003 digital exclusive cemented “Empty Room” as one of Prince’s most mythic vault creations — a song whispered about for decades, finally shared in raw, unpolished form. The track has remained a fan favourite in live performances, including the iconic 2009 Montreux Jazz Festival rendition. TRACK LIST Digital Single (NPG Music Club) Empty Room (Live) CHART PERFORMANCE Not eligible for chart entry (members-only digital release) PERSONNEL Prince – vocals, guitar, piano (live performance) RELATED MATERIAL Te Amo Corazón (2005) S.S.T. (2005) Musicology (2004) For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page. SOURCES Prince Vault • Sleevographia2 • NPG Music Club archives • Discogs COPYRIGHT NOTICE All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied. ARTIST — Prince ARTIST CATEGORY — Prince Singles ARTIST ITEM — Empty Room (Live) (Digital Single) ARTIST ATTACHMENT — NPG Records / NPG Music Club ARTIST YEAR — 2003

Xpectation is Prince’s twenty-sixth studio album and his first fully instrumental release under his own name. It was surprise-released as a download to NPG Music Club members on New Year’s Day 2003. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: NPG Records Format: Digital Download (mp3 / WMA) Country: Worldwide Released: January 1, 2003 (NPG Music Club) Genre: Jazz, Instrumental, Fusion Length: 40:53 CONTEXT & NOTES Originally titled Xenophobia, the title track was removed (likely due to its live version appearing on One Nite Alone... Live!) before release. It was the first album in a series of instrumental projects (followed by N.E.W.S.). The subtitle “New directions in music from Prince” nods to Miles Davis. No commercial retail CD or vinyl was released at the time. THE STORY A nine-track instrumental album with a smooth, improvisational jazz-fusion feel. The tracks follow an “X” naming theme and showcase Prince’s skills on keyboards and guitar, supported by a tight band including John Blackwell, Rhonda Smith, Candy Dulfer, and Vanessa Mae on violin. TRACK LISTING (2003 Original Digital) Xhalation — 2:04 Xcogitate — 3:34 Xemplify — 5:53 Xpectation — 4:01 Xotica — 3:05 Xogenous — 4:12 Xpand — 6:11 Xosphere — 3:34 Xpedition — 8:24 Total Length: 40:53 PERSONNEL Musicians Prince — keyboards, guitar ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS AND BACKGROUND John Blackwell — drums Rhonda Smith — bass guitar Candy Dulfer — saxophone (acoustic & electric) Vanessa Mae — violin Production Prince — producer, arranger No additional production credits listed PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS Digital-only release with no official physical artwork at launch Simple NPG Music Club download page Later reissues on Tidal and Musicology Download Store CHARTS Not eligible for mainstream charts (club download only). SOURCES Album liner notes, official discography, Discogs, 45cat, Official Charts, Wikipedia, Prince Vault. COPYRIGHT NOTICE All album artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference

A smooth, mid-tempo ballad taken from the 2007 album Planet Earth, released as a promotional CD single in France (where the commercial single “Guitar” was not issued) and later winning Prince a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Artist: Prince Label: NPG Records / Columbia Date: 2007 (French Promo) Catalogue: 0172071 / 080607 Format: Promo CD Single Country: France Genre: R&B / Pop Style: Mid-tempo ballad A-Side: “Future Baby Mama” (4:47) Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: — (Single-track promo) TRACK LIST France Promo CD Single (2007) Future Baby Mama (4:47) LINKED RELEASES / VARIANTS Promo CD Single – France (this release) Promo CD Single – USA (different sleeve) Album version – Planet Earth (2007) No commercial physical single was issued in France. PERSONNEL Prince – vocals, all instruments, production THE STORY “Future Baby Mama” was issued as a promotional CD single in France in 2007 to support the album Planet Earth. Unlike in other territories, “Guitar” was not released as a commercial single in France, so “Future Baby Mama” was chosen instead. The CD contained only the album version of the track. The single performed modestly on the US Billboard R&B chart, peaking at #39. CONTEXT & NOTES On 10 February 2008, “Future Baby Mama” won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, beating strong competition including tracks by Ne-Yo, Musiq Soulchild and Raheem DeVaughn. This remains one of Prince’s later Grammy wins and highlighted the quality of the Planet Earth material. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (2007) Planet Earth (Album) For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page. SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs, Billboard, sleevographia2. All single artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

A dynamic 2007 cover story and major promotional feature in Live magazine celebrating Prince’s innovative decision to give away his new album Planet Earth free with the publication, positioning him as “The People’s Prince” during one of his most generous and creative periods. Publication: Live Magazine Date: July 7, 2007 Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Cover Story + Multi-page Feature Title: The People’s Prince THE STORY The cover features Prince in a striking red jacket holding a guitar, with bold yellow and white headlines announcing the free Planet Earth album giveaway. Inside spreads include cosmic-themed photography, live performance shots (Prince in a blue outfit with a custom purple guitar), detailed articles on the album, reviews, and a timeline of his career highlights. CONTEXT AND NOTES In 2007, Prince made headlines worldwide by releasing Planet Earth as a free CD with UK newspaper The Mail on Sunday (and promoted heavily in Live magazine). This bold move was part of his ongoing battle against traditional music industry models and his desire to connect directly with fans. The feature highlights his return to form, live energy, and spiritual outlook. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Planet Earth Album Free Giveaway Promotion Era: 2007 (Planet Earth era) Tone: Celebratory, accessible, and fan-focused Photography: Dramatic studio and live shots, including Prince with custom guitar and cosmic/space-themed layouts Visual Motifs: Bold red/black color scheme on cover, starry night backgrounds, high-energy performance imagery WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Full front cover with Prince in red jacket and “The People’s Prince” headline Article “Prince comes back to Planet Earth” with starry background Live performance photos and custom purple guitar Album reviews, track breakdowns, and career retrospective sidebar Multiple interior spreads detailing the groundbreaking free release strategy RELATED MATERIAL Word Magazine (August 18, 2004) – “Meet the New Prince” The Times Magazine (July 18, 1998) – “The Changeling” Mojo Magazine (April 2014) – “Prince Rocks!” All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

Prince delivered a high-energy, stylish mini-set at the 9th Annual ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Awards in Pasadena, California, showcasing his signature flair while the event celebrated Hispanic achievement in entertainment. Date: June 3, 2007 (reporting on June 1 event) Country: United States Section / Pages: Page A20 Title: Prince and plenty of pizazz at ALMA awards THE STORY Prince performed a short but vibrant set at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, playing guitar and singing in a striking white and light-blue outfit with sunglasses. The article highlights the ALMA Awards’ recognition of Hispanic talent, including wins for Babel, Ugly Betty, and others. Prince’s appearance added significant star power and “pizazz” to the evening, which was later televised on ABC. CONTEXT AND NOTES This was a rare awards-show performance during Prince’s post-Planet Earth period. He was backed by a tight ensemble including Cora Coleman-Dunham (drums), Josh Dunham (bass), Morris Hayes & Renato Neto (keyboards), Maceo Parker (sax), Greg Boyer (trombone), Sheila E. (percussion), and vocalists/dancers. The set lasted about 10 minutes and included funk/rock flavors with songs like “The Word,” “Get On The Boat,” and a coda of “A Love Bizarre.” FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Awards Show Performance (9th Annual ALMA Awards) Era: 2007 One-Off Televised Appearance Tone: Celebratory, glamorous, high-energy Photography: Large color photo of Prince in white suit holding his guitar on stage + smaller photo of Eva Longoria & Mario Lopez dancing “Prince and plenty of pizazz at ALMA awards” WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Star Tribune newspaper clipping with prominent photo of Prince in sunglasses and ornate white jacket, gripping his custom guitar. Includes event details, ALMA winners list, and context about the Hispanic-focused awards ceremony. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (2007) ALMA Awards Performance Photos & Broadcast Footage Prince (2007) Planet Earth Era Live Appearances Prince Awards Show Performances (various years) Also see tabs at the foot of this post. All newspaper scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

Minneapolis Prince fans began lining up early outside Macy’s at Nicollet Mall to purchase $250 tickets for his upcoming July 7, 2007 concert at the Target Center, showcasing the intense local devotion to the artist during the Planet Earth era. PUBLICATION: Date: June 1, 2007 Country: United States Section / Pages: Page A2 Title: Prince fans begin wait outside Macy’s / Prince phones in new single THE STORY Hundreds of dedicated Prince fans camped out overnight or arrived early Thursday morning outside Macy’s in downtown Minneapolis to secure tickets for his July 7 concert at the Target Center. The tickets, priced at $250, sold out quickly. The article also notes Prince’s promotional activities, including the announcement of his new single “Guitar” available via Verizon Wireless, and teases the upcoming album Planet Earth. CONTEXT AND NOTES This event took place during a busy promotional period for Prince in his hometown. The high ticket price and immediate sell-out reflected his enduring star power in Minnesota. The piece captures the passionate community of fans who shared stories while waiting, highlighting Prince’s strong connection with his local audience. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Ticket Line for Target Center Concert Era: Planet Earth / 2007 Minneapolis Residency Period Tone: Warm, community-focused, celebratory Photography: Black-and-white portrait of Prince wearing sunglasses “All we gotta do is make it through the night.” — Dawn McGraw WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Star Tribune newspaper layout with bold headline, multiple columns of fan stories, and a central photo of Prince. Includes details about the ticket rush and promotional tie-ins with Verizon Wireless. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (June 1, 2007) ALMA Awards Performance – Pasadena Prince (July 7, 2007) Target Center Concert, Minneapolis Prince (2007) Planet Earth Album & “Guitar” Single Promotion Also see tabs at the foot of this post. All newspaper scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

Humorist Nick Coleman’s witty column in the Star Tribune takes a playful yet skeptical look at Prince’s new signature fragrance 3121, its mysterious numerology, high price tag, and sensory experience as it went on sale at Macy’s. PUBLICATION Publication: Star Tribune Date: Sunday, June 3, 2007 Country: United States Section / Pages: Page B2 Title: It’s not easy to make sense of Prince’s new scent THE STORY Columnist Nick Coleman describes sampling Prince’s new perfume 3121 ($30 per ounce), explores the numerological significance of the name 3121 (linking it to Prince’s fascination with the number 7 and July 7 release date), and recounts the chaotic scene of fans lining up at Macy’s. He details the scent’s official description and gives his own humorous review of its aroma. CONTEXT AND NOTES In 2007, Prince expanded his brand into lifestyle products, including his own fragrance named after his album and residence 3121. The perfume launch was tied to a special appearance and ticket package at Macy’s on July 7, 2007. This column captures the public’s mix of fascination, amusement, and curiosity toward Prince’s ever-expanding artistic and commercial ventures during this period. FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS vent: Launch of Prince’s signature fragrance 3121 Era: 2007 – Prince’s independent empire-building phase Tone: Humorous, witty, lightly skeptical Photography: Portrait of columnist Nick Coleman Visual Motifs: Large bold headline, dense text columns, typical newspaper layout WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS Full newspaper column with large headline Photo of Nick Coleman Detailed text discussing the perfume’s scent notes, pricing, numerology, and Prince’s mystique RELATED MATERIAL Prince (June 1, 2007) “Prince and plenty of pizazz at ALMA awards” – Performance at 9th Annual ALMA Awards – Star Tribune (US) Prince (June 1, 2007) “Prince fans begin wait outside Macy’s” – News Article – Star Tribune (US) Prince (May 31, 2007) Guitar - Digital Single Free New V CAST All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

A striking full-page promotional advertisement for Prince’s 2007 album Planet Earth, featuring dramatic cosmic imagery and announcing the album’s release date alongside the groundbreaking free distribution with The Mail on Sunday. Publication: Q Magazine Date: July 2007 Country: United Kingdom Section / Pages: Full-Page Advertisement Title: Prince – New Album Planet Earth July 16th THE STORY The advert showcases a powerful image of Prince in a red shirt, hands placed over his heart with the Love Symbol necklace glowing, positioned above a vibrant image of Planet Earth floating in a golden, cosmic background. Bold text announces the new album and highlights the single “Guitar.”

The song "Guitar" from the upcoming Planet Earth album was made available for free download through Verizon Wireless' Song ID. RELEASE DETAILS Date: February 2, 2007 Format: Digital Single (MP3) Country: Worldwide (via 3121.com) Track: “Guitar” (early mix) THE STORY Released on February 2, 2007 as a $1.99 MP3 download exclusively through Prince’s website 3121.com, “Guitar” was one of Prince’s earliest direct-to-fan digital singles. The track arrived ahead of the Planet Earth album and showcased Prince’s renewed focus on rock-funk fusion, built around a playful hook (“I love you, baby — but not like I love my guitar”) and a bright, punchy production style. This early 2007 version differs from the later album mix. CONTEXT & NOTES This release marked Prince’s embrace of independent online distribution in the mid-2000s. By selling directly through 3121.com, Prince bypassed traditional retail channels and engaged fans directly. “Guitar” became a fan favourite not only for its energy but also for its rarity as an early digital exclusive. It helped set the tone for Prince’s 2007 output and his evolving relationship with digital platforms. TRACK LIST Digital Single Guitar (early mix) CHART PERFORMANCE No official chart entries reported (website-exclusive digital release) PERSONNEL Prince – vocals, guitar, all instruments, production RELATED MATERIAL Planet Earth (2007 album) Chelsea Rodgers (2007 single) Prince’s digital-era singles (2007) For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page. SOURCES Prince Vault Discogs All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

A promotional CD single released in the United States to support Prince’s performance on the American Idol season finale on May 24, 2006. The disc pairs “Lolita” with “Satisfied” from the album 3121 and highlights the 40 million viewing audience. RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: Universal Records / Republic Records Date: May 24, 2006 (as printed on disc) Catalogue: none Format: Promo CD Single Country: United States A-Side: “Lolita” (4:06) Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince B-Side: “Satisfied” (2:50) Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince TRACK LIST USA Promo CD Single Lolita (4:06) Satisfied (2:50) LINKED RELEASES / VARIANTS Promo CD Single – USA (this release) Album version – 3121 (2006) No commercial single was released in the United States for “Lolita”. PERSONNEL Prince – vocals, all instruments, production THE STORY This promotional CD single was created to capitalise on Prince’s high-profile appearance on the American Idol finals on May 24, 2006. Prince performed “Lolita” (and “Satisfied”) live to an estimated 40 million viewers. The disc was distributed to radio, media, and industry professionals to maximise exposure from the television event. CONTEXT & NOTES The disc carries no catalogue number and is a limited promotional item only. The clean white design features bold “PRINCE” lettering at the top, the stylised “3121” logo on the left, and the Universal Records / Republic Records logos on the right. The text “AS PERFORMED ON THE FINALS OF AMERICAN IDOL 5/24/06” and “40 Million Viewing Audience” are printed directly on the disc, using the performance date as the key reference. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (2006) 3121 (Album) Prince – American Idol Finale Performance (May 24, 2006) For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page. SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs' Sleevographia2. All single artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

A stickered promotional 12" single released in the United Kingdom on May 29, 2006 to promote Prince’s album 3121 and the single “Fury”. This version features the straight album versions of “Fury” on the A-side and “Love” on the B-side and was issued strictly for promotional use (not for resale). RELEASE DETAILS Artist: Prince Label: NPG Records / Universal Records Date: May 29, 2006 Catalogue: WMCST40462 Format: Stickered Promotional 12" Single Country: United Kingdom A-Side: “Fury (Album Version)” (4:02) B-Side: “Love (Album Version)” (5:46) Written by: Prince Produced by: Prince TRACK LIST UK Stickered Promotional 12" Single (WMCST40462) Fury (Album Version) (4:02) Love (Album Version) (5:46) LINKED RELEASES / VARIANTS Stickered Promotional 12" Single – UK (this release) Picture Disc 12" Single – UK (MCST 40462 / 985673-2, May 29, 2006) Album version – 3121 (2006) Other European promotional variants exist PERSONNEL Prince – vocals, all instruments, production THE STORY This promotional 12" single was released in the UK on May 29, 2006 as part of the European campaign for “Fury”, the third and final single from Prince’s 2006 album 3121. Unlike the limited picture-disc edition (which featured a live medley recorded at the BRIT Awards on the B-side), this version contains the clean album versions of both “Fury” and “Love”. It was distributed exclusively to radio, DJs and industry professionals and was never available for commercial retail sale. CONTEXT & NOTES The release comes in a striking plain black sleeve with metallic silver lettering for “PRINCE” and “FURY” at the top and the track listing below. A large white informational sticker is affixed to the upper-right corner of the sleeve, detailing full production credits, publishing information and the clear “FOR PROMO ONLY / NOT FOR RESALE” disclaimer. The vinyl centre label carries the standard silver “PRINCE” logo with track details and NPG/Universal branding. This was a limited promotional pressing only. For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page. RELATED MATERIAL Prince (2006) 3121 (Album) Prince (May 29, 2006) “Fury” – Picture Disc 12" Single UK SOURCES Prince Vault, Discogs, sleevographia2. For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page. All single artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.