UnPRINCEdented

I am sitting here listening to Prince's new album. It is going to be a historic album for a number of reasons.

The artist formerly known as the Artist Formerly Known As Prince has released the album free to readers of the Mail on Sunday newspaper. It's the first time that something like this has happened and is a clever - but curious - way of promoting.

I don't understand where the gimmick works, though. People are going to buy the paper, get a free CD and then what?

Do the companies involved think that it will make people want to go out and buy the original copy? Will it increase sales for Prince's concerts at the former Millennium Dome?

I doubt it. The public won't buy another CD when they already have it and the concerts are already on the verge of selling out if they aren't already.

I have already had a glance at Ebay and the business-minded have already started putting the item on sale in order to sell to foreign countries that have yet to have the CD on the shelves.

What ever the reason was - I welcome it and hope that other artists will follow suit.