Singer Prince Compares Record Contracts To Slavery

Recording artist Prince is comparing record contracts to slavery. The musician always says what’s on his mind, and this is no different. So what spurred on the comparison? Well, according to Buzzfeed, while talking about his views on the music industry, Prince decided to delve into record contracts.

Prince told a bunch of reporters, “Record contracts are just like.. I’m gonna say the word, slavery. I would tell any young artist..don’t sign.”

It’s clear that Prince is advocating for an indie route, which is an avenue he’s decided to take as an already established artist. Prince signed up for the streaming platform Tidal, which was started by Jay Z as a new platform that gives back to the artist while giving fans exclusive music and video content.

In fact, Prince is currently working on a new album that will be released exclusively to Tidal subscribers. This isn’t the first time that Prince hinted that he wanted to find a new direction to get his music out. As you might be aware, the singer has pulled his entire catalogue from other streaming services, and he’s one of the only artists whose work you can’t find on iTunes.

Back in May, Prince released his first piece of work through Tidal. It was an exclusive concert that was streamed on the platform called Rally 4 Peace concert that subscribers had the chance to check out if they wanted to.

In a statement about the company, Prince said, “After one meeting, it was obvious that Jay Z and the team he has assembled at Tidal recognize and applaud the real effort that real musicians put in2 their craft 2 achieve the very best they can at this pivotal time in the music industry.”

He continued, “Tidal has honored Us with a non-restrictive arrangement that once again allows Us to continue making art in the fashion We’ve grown accustomed 2 and We’re Extremely grateful 4 their generous support.”

Back in May, Jay Z put out a statement on Prince’s involvement in Tidal. “Both Prince and Tidal share the belief that all creatives should have the opportunity to speak directly to those that love and support them. The partnership with Prince represents Tidal’s philosophy in its truest form, a 1 to 1 connection and direct delivery of artistry to the world.”

Prince isn’t the only artist on Tidal. Beyonce, Kanye West, Madonna, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj are just some of the names that are affiliated with the company.

What do you think about Prince comparing record contracts to slavery?

[Photo by Chris Graythen / Getty Images]