Publication: New Music Express [UK]
Date: October 26, 1996
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Title: " Finds Contract Freedom"
Written By: Staff

New kingdom for Prince

THE ARTIST FORMERLY KNOWN AS PRINCE has left his long-term record label Warners to sign a multi-million dollar distribution deal with EMI.EMI will distribute a three-disc set, 'Emancipation', on NPG Records with a worldwide release date of November 19. The first single from the LP will be a cover of The Stylistics' '70s Philly soul classic, 'BetchaBy Golly, Wow'. A spokesman at WEA in the UK refused to confirm thedeal, but said: "His ('s) contract is up and was fulfilledwith delivery of his last album, this year's 'Chaos And Disorder'." Thedistribution arrangement will, according to NPG Records, grant "absolute freedom".

commented: "Freedom is a beautiful thing... I've been slookingforward to this day for a long time. 'Emancipation' is the album I wasborn to make." , real name Prince Rogers Nelson, was with WarnerBrothers for 19 years. He became increasingly unhappy with the label,which refused to issue a backlog of his unreleased albums. Whenrelations between him and the company broke down, Prince decided not touse his name any more, replaced it with a symbol and took to writing'slave' on the side of his face by way of protest, as seen at the 1995Brit Awards. Although 'The Gold Experience', one of the disputed albums,was eventually released, 's protest continued.

Originally, it was thought that the Warners contract did not expireuntil 1998 and planned to keep touring until then, but now itappears Warners will simply claim the royalties from Prince's backlog ofsongs until that time. 's spokesman refused to confirm rumoursthat the star will revert to the name Prince. In the meantime, he said, was, with new wife Mayte, looking forward to the birth of hisfirst child, due next month.

Also last week, 's shop in London'sCamden Market area closed its doors for the final time, owing debtsamounting to some 20,000 and down to a sales staff of one. Business inthe boutique, which sold Prince/Symbol/ paraphernalia, had beendeclining for the past two years and His Purpleness now prefers to sellhis merchandise through his internet site.