20 May PRINCE & Kobalt Make Marketing & Distribution Deal Official!
PRINCE told us on the 1st day of the year that 2013 was going to be big. We are not even at the half-way point but PRINCE has just signed a deal with Kobalt Label Services (KLS) hours after his Billboard Award’s performance with 3rdEyeGirl!
As part of a press release that was shared with Billboard first before other outlets, the deal states:
Under terms of the partnership, the singer/songwriter/musician/producer will release music by newly signed artists, as well as his own recordings and other Prince-produced material. KLS will provide marketing and distribution through its wholly owned global digital platform and network of physical distribution partners. According to a Kobalt spokesperson, details regarding the inaugural slate of releases under the new pact will be announced by Prince at a later date.
“This new venture gives Prince the flexibility and freedom he’s always sought in a label partner,” Kobalt president Richard Sanders said in a press release announcing the partnership. “We’re providing a high level of diverse services that will be particularly customized to his vision for each release, allowing the world to experience more music from Prince and his creative community.”
We first heard back in April of “Plectrum Electrum” a new record by 3rdEyeGirl that would feature PRINCE on one song and Hannah Ford-Welton singing lead on another song, leading us to assume the rest of the record, at that time, would be instrumental. Assuming.
The interesting and cool part of this deal with KLS is that it would feature the newly signed artists, along with his own material and other material that he has produced.
KLS is behind the distribution of the new Pet Shop Boys record, which is on their own x2 recordings, which we have featured on the site. KLS has done a good job of promoting that record and several others we have featured on the site.
Congrats to PRINCE on the deal and we await the announcement of the inaugural slate of releases that PRINCE will provide at a later date.-DocFB
Diagnosis: So the truckload of FUNK ended up at KLS…..right?
DeeLucks
Posted at 14:26h, 22 May@ Michael
I couldn’t agree with u more bro.
The music of today,
All sounds the same.
Which can get very boring & predictable.
Every1’s concepts are pretty much the same.
Prince is the only1, out of a handful, who is bold & daring enuff to go against the grain.
Proud of u Prince, keep up the great werk Unc.
DeeLucks
Posted at 14:20h, 22 MaySorry 4 the type o error, I meant:
I think we should prepare 4 take off!
Been a Prince fan 4 too long, this is the break he’s been lookin 4!
If I know Prince correctly, he’s bout 2 blow everybody’s mind!!!
Remember his infamous quote:
“Don’t u like surprises?” – Prince
Anonymous
Posted at 14:19h, 22 MaySorry 4 the type o error, I meant:
I think we should prepare 4 take off!
Been a Prince fan 4 too long, this is the break he’s been lookin 4!
If I know Prince correctly, he’s bout 2 blow everybody’s mind!!!
Remember his infamous quote:
“Don’t u like surprises?” – Prince
DeeLucks
Posted at 14:16h, 22 MayI think we should prepare 4 take off!
Been a Prince fan 4 too long, this is break he’s been lookin 4!
If I know Prince correctly, he’s bout 2 blow everybody’s mind!!!
Remember his infamous quote:
“Don’t u like surprises?” – Prince
Chocolatsis65
Posted at 09:22h, 22 May@ Michael speaking of radio thats the only way I would be able to go Sat 🙁 tho I am going to celebrate my new job!! and support music downtown on Monday with g~friend who never gets to enjoy any of this. If I cAn treat her she deserves n NEEDS it. Can’t wait and hoping…
Boris Koolschijn
Posted at 00:47h, 22 MayCongratulations! May the creativity stay with bro! The dawn of a new spiritual revolution!
Suzy Six
Posted at 21:11h, 21 MayThis is GREAT news! More new artists under the Prince umbrella! Of course i hope we get more PRINCE albums too! Gives me hope 4 the future of real music, Prince is looking SO happy right now. He’s always smiling. His eyes are lit up! He seems lit from WITHIN now. It’s so beautiful! Thank God 4 Prince.
Anonymous
Posted at 13:08h, 21 MayIs this the end to the 3rdeyegirl site ?
Michael
Posted at 08:52h, 21 MayThe ‘deal’ Prince needs is the deal that gets him more radio airplay(Prince gets almost no radio airplay now), more Muzak play(yes, in shopping centers and offices/office buildings), and gets more physical-Prince-products on store shelves everywhere. More and more people will find Prince on the internet; we need Prince’s work to become more omnipresent than so much junk that’s all too available now.
MarkyMarc
Posted at 07:38h, 21 MayThis is great news and hopefully we can get more music from Prince I hope he will release some of the mysterious vault music under this partnership.
In terms of other artists, we all know Prince can be controlling and he tends to make people sound like him. Nobody can ever be him so it falls flat. I hope that he allows the other artist that he works with to stay who they are but work with a musical genius like him. All these new producers don’t have any talent compared to Prince but the one thing they do is allow the artist to be original and make music that best represents them.
I can’t wait to hear some of the artists that he is going to work with. He has some amazing people on his team! Hope he can put out Liv and Shelby J. Especially since he worked with Liv on Live out Loud and Shelby on North Carolina. I may have answered my own question. Good luck ladies!!
Twinkly1
Posted at 18:54h, 20 MayAbsolutely stunning! Congratulations to Prince and his associated Artists…looking forward to more mind-blowing music from real musicians.
DjReggieRegg
Posted at 17:07h, 20 MayPrince plzzzzzzz put out some funk like I know u can!
Debbie a.k.a thareelqueenbee
Posted at 15:41h, 20 MayWOW! This is such GREAT news for us PURPLE PEEPZ. BUT more so this is GREAT 4 Prince and his Music YEP DOC 2013 ain’t even ova and like Prince said 2013 is going 2 B a HUGH Year. So Proud and Happy 2 hear about this new venture with KLS looking forward 2 hearing and seeing Prince do the Press Release on this. Message 2 ALL Musician out there PLEASE take a note out of Prince’s Book and learn to OWN U’re Masters and have TOTALLY ARTISTIC and CREATIVE FREEDOM of U’re Music. 😉
Cheryl
Posted at 13:45h, 20 MayYes! excited for more music! Release it!
M21nights
Posted at 11:39h, 20 MayIt sounds like the perfect deal for Prince and I hope it works out just the way he wants it! This year has one great excitement after the other in the purple world!
teiemka
Posted at 09:53h, 20 MayNow this is really exciting, nimble new player in the music distribution business without any boundaries, they cover digital channels, physical product, direct sales through artist’s site (no need to close down 3rdeyegirl.com or prince2013.com).
I can’t put the link here for Musicweek article by Tim Ingram 1 March but if you put this into google it should get you to the right place “Kobalt celebrates Nick Cave Label Services success”.
I love me some Nick Cave(real music by real musicians), but imagine transposing what they’ve done there with Prince, that’s got my imagination running away with me … (especially if they could get Prince to play the Sydney Opera house).
Mark
Posted at 09:47h, 20 MayAs with everything Prince it will last for 12 months at most until he gets bored or owes them money.
Lindsey A.
Posted at 08:41h, 20 MayThis is great news to wake up to!!! Do ur thang Prince! Looking forward to the great music ahead 🙂
Mirri
Posted at 07:52h, 20 MayThanx 4 the news Doc. Truly a BIG year 4 Prince. CONGRATS Mr Purple Pants 😛
Tannis
Posted at 07:37h, 20 MayGreat news indead! So happy to hear this news. So great, thanks Dr. Funkenberry.
KcO0L's CHOCOLATEBOX (@ChocolateBox777)
Posted at 07:11h, 20 MayWow! Just the perfect deal Prince been looking 4 2 distribute his everlasting “MasterPieces”. Eye wonder is that the reason Prince stop using his newly formed websites, Prince2013.com & 3rdEyeGirl.com that have been ghost lately..
Tom509
Posted at 07:02h, 20 MayGreat news! I’m happy for Prince, and excited for all of his admirers to have access to new music. Bring back the CD! 😉
NPS
Posted at 06:52h, 20 MayGood for Prince! Let’s him focus on the creative end of his craft, while established professionals handle the marketing & distribution. Look forward to whatever he has in store for us.
Barbara
Posted at 06:01h, 20 MayGreat news and congratulations to Prince – he’s had a big year so far and the best thing is that he looks happy!
Looking forward to the releases on KLS. Happy to pay the $$ for the rock & roll!!
Humptyness
Posted at 05:47h, 20 MayCongrats thats great for Prince.
“So, will i be able to paypal my FLAC’s?” comes to mind