Prince

Prince: ‘The Internet Is Over’

By Andre Paine, London
Prince has given what has been billed as his first U.K. newspaper interview in a decade as part of a deal for his new album, “20Ten.”

The Daily Mirror will give the album away July 10 as a free CD with the paper, while European deals have also been struck with Rolling Stone Germany and a Belgian newspaper (Billboard.biz, June 29).

In the interview, Prince outlines his anti-Internet stance. Naturally his comments have been widely circulated via the Internet.

“The Internet is completely over,” Prince told the Mirror. “I don’t see why I should give my new music to iTunes or anyone else. They won’t pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can’t get it.”

He added: “The Internet’s like MTV. At one time MTV was hip and suddenly it became outdated.”

Prince is not a fan of digital devices, either. “All these computers and digital gadgets are no good,” he said. “They just fill your head with numbers and that cant be good for you.”

Prince does not intend “20Ten” to get a download release in addition to the free CD distribution with newspapers and magazines. He has also shut down his official website and does not plan to license new music to download stores or subscription services.

A U.S. distribution deal for the album has yet to be confirmed. The record has been linked with Warner Bros.