Prince songs expected to hit Apple Music, other streaming services on Grammy's night
More than 19 months after Prince pulled his songs from all streaming music services save for Jay-Z's Tidal, the musician's estate is set to release a selection of top hits to Apple Music and other providers on Feb. 12, according to reports.
Citing music industry sources familiar with the matter, the New York Post on Monday reported Prince's Warner Music Group albums are set to go live on streaming outlets like Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Google Play, Deezer and others during the Grammy Awards ceremony next month.
The Warner albums, which include hit singles like "Let's Go Crazy," "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," have been Tidal exclusives since Prince abruptly yanked the content from competing streaming services in July 2015. At the time, Google said it had not received a request to pull the albums from Google Play Music All Access, though it seems the tracks were removed at a later date.
Prince's takedown request came just nine months prior to his death last April. In the intervening months, his estate has been in negotiations to return the artist's catalog to popular streaming services.
At the time of his death, Apple honored Prince by sending out messages of support through company Twitter accounts. Executives also posted condolences to their personal accounts, with CEO Tim Cook calling the musician "a true innovator and a singular artist," saying "his music and influence will live on for generations." Marketing chief Phil Schiller said, "'The sky was all purple' RIP #Prince."
Adding to release rumors, Spotify this week began posting billboard ads in the New York City subway and other high traffic areas displaying the company's logo set against a purple background, Prince's signature color. Recent rumblings within the music world suggested Prince would return to Apple Music in the near future, though those claims were never substantiated.
While Apple lacked rights to stream Prince tunes through its Apple Music subscription service, the company continued to sell his music on iTunes and play select cuts on Beats 1 radio.
Citing music industry sources familiar with the matter, the New York Post on Monday reported Prince's Warner Music Group albums are set to go live on streaming outlets like Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, Google Play, Deezer and others during the Grammy Awards ceremony next month.
The Warner albums, which include hit singles like "Let's Go Crazy," "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," have been Tidal exclusives since Prince abruptly yanked the content from competing streaming services in July 2015. At the time, Google said it had not received a request to pull the albums from Google Play Music All Access, though it seems the tracks were removed at a later date.
Prince's takedown request came just nine months prior to his death last April. In the intervening months, his estate has been in negotiations to return the artist's catalog to popular streaming services.
At the time of his death, Apple honored Prince by sending out messages of support through company Twitter accounts. Executives also posted condolences to their personal accounts, with CEO Tim Cook calling the musician "a true innovator and a singular artist," saying "his music and influence will live on for generations." Marketing chief Phil Schiller said, "'The sky was all purple' RIP #Prince."
Adding to release rumors, Spotify this week began posting billboard ads in the New York City subway and other high traffic areas displaying the company's logo set against a purple background, Prince's signature color. Recent rumblings within the music world suggested Prince would return to Apple Music in the near future, though those claims were never substantiated.
While Apple lacked rights to stream Prince tunes through its Apple Music subscription service, the company continued to sell his music on iTunes and play select cuts on Beats 1 radio.
Comments
Glad to see him back !
I'm sure about %5 of Tidal users subscribe because of Prince's exclusivity. Not even Kanye could keep his word. This is gonna hurt.
A Prince Apple Music ad during the Grammy's would be a major blow.
/s
I'm still so sad he is gone. Maybe if we are lucky we will get some new material from the vault. Take my money please!
well sales and subscribers disagree with you. He's one of the biggest artists in recording history so I cant even comprehend what you're trying to say.
I guess Tidal bragged about Prince exclusivity because no one cared..../s
Now, please 'let me up' before you deliver another piercing, incisive blow...