Sony Music signs with Prince estate to release 35 catalogue albums

Sony Music Entertainment and the Prince estate have struck an exclusive distribution to release 35 of the prolific musician’s titles.

They are out through the Legacy Recordings imprint.

The first run of 19 is from the 1995-2010 era, and to be released immediately.

They include The Gold Experience (1995), Emancipation (1996), Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic (1999), The Rainbow Children (2001) and 3121 (2006), as well as Musicology (2004) and Planet Earth (2007), which were originally released via Sony on its Columbia label.

Further titles from 2014-15 will also be distributed worldwide under the deal.

It includes previously released singles, B-sides, remixes, non-album tracks, live recordings and music videos recorded before 1995.

Starting in 2021, Sony/Legacy will be able to issue 12 non-soundtrack albums from the 1978-1996 era in the US.

These will include Prince (1979), Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), 1999 (1982), Around The World In A Day (1985), Sign ‘O’ the Times (1987), Lovesexy (1988), Diamonds and Pearls (1991) and [Love Symbol] (1992).

They remain with Warner Music outside the US.

“A true artist and visionary, Prince changed the world with his music, bringing love, joy and inspiration to millions,” said SME Commercial Music Group president Richard Story.

“Sony Music is honoured to play a part in keeping Prince’s music alive and making it available for generations of lifelong listeners and future fans.”

The estate’s entertainment adviser Troy Carter commented, “The Sony team’s enthusiasm and deep knowledge of Prince’s music make them the ideal partner to release these iconic bodies of work.

“We’re looking forward to working with the heirs and Sony on giving fans what they’ve been waiting for – more great music from Prince.”

There’s been a certain amount of confusion regarding Prince’s distribution after his sudden death in 2016, leading to court action.

Not helping was the fact that the estate’s executors were rushing to pay off a $100 million estate tax bill.

In February 2017, Universal Music Group paid US$31 million to the Prince estate for his work since 1999 and, from 2018, US rights for those out from 1979 to 1995.

A few months later, the deal was made void when Universal realised that these recordings – representing his most commercially golden period – still belonged to Warner Bros, and demanded its money back.

Recently, the estate also cut a deal with the Tidal streaming service to issue previously unheard material next year