Prince and Universal have mutually agreed to terminate their publishing deal, it has been confirmed.
Kiran Sharma, Prince’s manager, said: “We are pleased to announce that Prince and Universal have reached a mutual agreement in terminating their long standing publishing deal. It is an exciting opportunity for Prince to consider fresh and new ideas for all his music.”
There has been no concrete reason given to why Prince specifically left Universal, but by the sound of the comment given by his manager it could be possible that the artist wanted to record new material that the record label didn’t necessarily agree with. Also, with Prince’s own label, NPG, having been established for quite some time now, there’s really no reason why Prince should stay with such a huge label as this when he can do it all on his own.
Hosting a great number of big selling artists such as Lady Gaga, B.B. King, U2 and many more, Universal remain one of the largest and most wealthy record labels in the world. So the sting of Prince’s departure won’t hurt too much…
Of course, the last time Prince graced our shores was at last year’ Hop Farm festival. Clash scribe Brian Murnin was on hand, and pondered the sheer magnificence of the Purple One’s performance.
“There are not many alive that could take the controls and nudge them up a notch further, but that is precisely Prince achieved tonight in his first ever UK festival performance at Kent’s Hop Farm festival” he wrote.
“Some performers seem to operate in a space with scant regard for time, trend and genre and the seemingly ageless Prince is one of those. Dedicated solely to what he repeatedly calls ‘just good music, REAL music’ as he leads a seven strong band of virtuosos through a blinding selection of NPG nuggets and masterful Prince medleys.”
A tantalising glimpse of what Prince can still achieve… Find the full report HERE.
Words by Jamie Carson
