Hot on the heels of his surprise performance at Lilith Fair, it looks like The Artist has another surprise up his sleeve.
According to a statement, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince is brokering a distribution deal with Arista/BMG for his forthcoming album, 'Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic'. The disc, which is slated for a November release will be the artist's first major label release since his ill-fated association with EMI America Records ended in 1997.
Under the deal, 'Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic' will remain an NPG Records release, licenced for distribution by Arista in the US and Arista/BMG internationally.
In the last two major label-less years, The Artist has been utilizing the Internet to sell his wares. Both the five-CD 'Crystal Ball' and his reworking of '1999' were available from www.1800newfunk.com before they found their way to traditional retail outlets. The deals with retailers were brokered directly by The Artist, bypassing labels and distributors.
In keeping with The Artist's pro-Internet leanings, there will also be a version of 'Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic' that will feature net-friendly elements.
Londell McMillan, representative for The Artist, told USA Today, "There may be an interactive version of the CD, an idea his Web-site friends are playing with. It would be special to the Internet and sufficiently different enough that our retail friends don't have to worry."
Alluding to distribution problems under the Internet-only model, McMillan added "I felt this record needed the widest and farthest-reaching marketing and promotional support. The Artist is one of the most amazing musicians, performers and songwriters of all time. We wanted to close out the century by illustrating that point. It was the right time and the right team."
To kick off the new partnership, a single for 'The Greatest Romance Ever Sold' will be released in September.
According to Arista guru Clive Davis, who eventually signed The Artist, "The music says it all. You can talk about respect for accomplishment and a special place in history, but we're looking at the future. He's as contemporary and adventurous as ever. This is going to be a huge album. The hits are there in depth."
Davis expressed hope that the deal with The Artist would extend beyond the forthcoming album. "I have absolute confidence in his future... He's at the peak of his powers."
The Artist added, "I believe I had 2 get out of the recording industry 4 a while so that I could reclaim my artistry and become empowered by it again. The problems I had with so-called majors were regarding ownership and long-term contracts. Both of these problems r non-existent in my agreement with Arista. Things seem 2 work best when all parties agree, and we do!"
According to McMillan, the purple one's camp is going to take things one album at a time.
For 'Rave', The Artist is enlisting an outside producer for the first time. The lucky man? Prince. The previous persona of The Artist is being used as "a throwback to his very popular Prince days", says McMillan.
As well as the new album and single there will also be a tour. Of course, The Artist is also planning a New Years Eve bash. Says McMillan, "We can't let that opportunity pass. We're going to party like it's 1999."
For those who can't wait for the new disc, Warner is releasing 'The Vault', a collection of unreleased tracks and rarities from Princes' highly successful Warner Bros. years (1978-1995).
