Publication: E! [Internet]
Date: November 9, 1996
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Title: "The Artist Formerly Known as Reclusive"
Written By: Marcus Errico

It's called Emancipation and its title is apt. for the artist formerly known as Prince Rogers Nelson. The new triple-CD set mark's his release from his Warner Bros. contract--and it could also signify his departure from his trademark reclusive ways.

Everybody's favorite Symbol Man is mapping out a very conventional marketing strategy for his new album--a far cry from his media-shy pattern of years' past. For the 36-track set, the man now named simply the Artist is ponying up his own money to push the collection--which is being released by his NPG label through EMI-Capitol.

This is a complete turnaround. So far, he's not only shortened his moniker but done a rare interview with Rolling Stone and, gulp, even plans to chat it up with Oprah. The commercial coup-de-grace will be a release party Tuesday at his Paisley Park studio in Minneapolis at which he will perform a short concert that will be picked up by TV and radio stations, as well as MTV, Black Entertainment Television and VH-1. Our own E! Online has the exclusive cybercast.

Finally, the Artist will host--we're not making this up--Muppets Tonight, then take off on a two-year world tour, something he hasn't done in two years. All the while fans can surf to his Web site, The Dawn. (Get it?)

Prince's camp hopes that the little guy can reclaim his glory days of ten years ago. Sure he was a little peculiar, but critics hailed his albums as revolutionary. Rolling Stone named him one of the most important musicians of the decade.

But his bizarro act almost cost him his career. After a string of erratic albums, he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol in 1993. Soon after, he began his heralded feud with Warner Bros., which halted distribution of Paisley Park artists and pretty much shut down Prince's label.

The Artist's pushers say his new strategy will put their man back in the musical royalty; you can judge for yourself when the $30-set is released November 19.