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People in the News

Saturday, September 13, 2025

People in the News

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Prince Compares Record Contracts To Slavery In Rare Meeting With Media

image: Maxi Priest/Facebook
image: Maxi Priest/Facebook

NPR – Music icon Prince is worried about the future of the music business for artists, and his top priority can be summed up in one word: Freedom.

“Record contracts are just like — I’m gonna say the word – slavery,” Prince told a group of 10 journalists Saturday night, during a meet and greet at his Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis. “I would tell any young artist … don’t sign.”

His pitch to the group was simple: Typical record company contracts turn artists into indentured servants with little control over how their music is used, particularly when it comes to revenue from streaming services playing their music online — and he wants to change that.

Music icon Prince is worried about the future of the music business for artists, and his top priority can be summed up in one word: Freedom.

“Record contracts are just like — I’m gonna say the word – slavery,” Prince told a group of 10 journalists Saturday night, during a meet and greet at his Paisley Park Studios in Minneapolis. “I would tell any young artist … don’t sign.”

His pitch to the group was simple: Typical record company contracts turn artists into indentured servants with little control over how their music is used, particularly when it comes to revenue from streaming services playing their music online — and he wants to change that.

Click here to read more about Prince new alliance with Jay Z and the rap star’s new music streaming service, Tidal.