prince

Chaka Khan, Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, D-Nice And More Celebrate Prince Over The Weekend

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Over the weekend, Prince lovers from around the world gathered at Paisley Park to celebrate and honor Prince’s life on what would have been his 65th birthday and 7th year of his passing. The 7th Annual Celebration event was a major success thanks to star-studded programming, uplifting performances, and engaging panels, all in celebration of Prince’s outstanding legacy and once-in-a-lifetime cultural impact. 

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Over June 8-11, Paisley Park hosted exclusive presentations of unreleased music from the famous Prince Vault and special appearances by and conversations with Grammy-winning artist Chaka Khan and Hip-Hop legends Chuck D and Doug E. Fresh. Guests were also treated to live performances from powerhouse Minnesota super group Sounds of Blackness, R&B star Stokley of Mint Condition, artist, DJ, and BDP co-founder D-Nice, members of Prince’s band New Power Generation (NPG), Prince protegé Shelby J, and Minneapolis youth choir Known MPLS, and an exciting showcase of new artists Nunnabove and Nur-D. Supporting new, and young artists was something that was extremely important to Prince, and remains one of Paisley Park’s core values. Celebration included a special Prince Legacy Tribute to one of the founding members of NPG—the beloved vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Rosie Gaines, accepted by her daughter and grandson. The event also honored both Prince and Tina Turner through a unique tribute led by Prince’s longtime DJ and collaborator DJ Rashida. 

Attendees were gifted special cassette-shaped USB keys with two previously unreleased tracks from the Prince Vault– “All A Share Together Now,” recorded on September 4, 2006, and “7 (E Flat Version),” recorded on August 9, 1992. Both tracks are set for a worldwide DSP release on July 7, 2023. 

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Prince’s former attorney, manager and friend, L. Londell McMillan on Celebration 2023: “Thank you to all who contributed to a monumental Prince Celebration 2023.  We celebrated Prince and lifted his name, in his house, with many who loved him, on the 7th Anniversary of his transition — we miss him dearly.  The music, conversations, events, food, and fellowship were all done with love and gratitude to honor Prince. We look forward to Prince Celebration 2024, the 40th Anniversary of Purple Rain.” 

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Paisley Park’s Annual Celebration Set to Kick Off, Honoring Prince’s Legacy

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The highly anticipated annual Celebration at Paisley Park, dedicated to honoring the legendary musician and cultural icon Prince, is set to kick off this weekend. The star-studded four-day event, scheduled from June 8 to June 11, promises an unforgettable experience for fans and music enthusiasts alike.

One of the main highlights of the Celebration will be exclusive presentations of unreleased music from Prince’s famous Vault. Fans will have the rare opportunity to delve into the musical treasures left behind by the prolific artist. Moreover, the event will feature special appearances and conversations with Grammy-winning artist Chaka Khan and Hip-Hop legends Chuck D and Doug E. Fresh.

Chaka Khan, who first crossed paths with Prince back in 1977 during the recording of his debut album, will share her unique connection to the Purple One during the event. The two artists fostered a decades-long friendship and musical partnership, which included Chaka’s Grammy-winning cover of Prince’s hit song “I Feel For You” and her album “Come 2 My House” released on NPG Records.

Hip-Hop enthusiasts will have a lot to celebrate this year, as the event will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Chuck D and Doug E. Fresh, two influential figures in the genre, will reflect on Prince’s impact on Hip-Hop music and culture during a special discussion. Prince, who had an evolving relationship with Hip-Hop, collaborated with both Chuck D and Doug E. Fresh, showcasing his mutual respect and appreciation for the genre.

Throughout the Celebration, various panels will delve into the significance of the number “7” in Prince’s work and the efforts of dedicated fans, known as the “fams,” who continue to preserve his legacy.
“Prince was and remains the greatest artist of All-Time. We are honored to gather yet again to celebrate Prince and his legacy at Paisley Park this year with many who knew him up close or adored him from afar,” says, L. Londell McMillan, Prince’s former attorney, manager, and friend.

The grounds of Paisley Park will be brimming with surprises for attendees, including the chance to view Prince’s original 1994 Tour Bus. VIP ticket holders will also have a unique opportunity to record live vocals over a segment of a Prince song in the legendary Studio C control room. To commemorate the event, exclusive Celebration 2023 merchandise will be available for purchase, alongside concession stands located in the outdoor tent on Friday and Saturday.

In keeping with tradition, attendees will be divided into two tracks, namely “Diamond” and “Pearl,” to ensure intimate and immersive experiences throughout Prince’s legendary complex.

While VIP tickets have sold out, limited General Admission and Single Day tickets are still available for purchase. Additionally, standalone tickets for the Sexy MF Dance Party with DJ D-Nice and the 3121: A Tribute to Prince and Tina Turner with DJ Rashida can be obtained.

Don’t miss out on the biggest Prince Celebration in the world. Secure your tickets now at https://www.paisleypark.com/celebration2023 and join the unforgettable tribute to the musical legacy of Prince at Paisley Park’s annual Celebration.

A daily schedule of events is available below:
Friday, June 9
Special viewing of exclusive archival Prince concert footage
Exclusive Listening Sessions of Prince Music from the Vault
New Artist Showcase – Nunnabove and Nur-D
Shelby J live performance
One on One conversation with Chaka Khan where she will reflect on Prince, her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the 25th anniversary of her album, Come 2 My House, recorded at Paisley Park on NPG Records
Hip Hop 50 Panel: Prince’s Evolving and Complex Relationship With Hip Hop, presented by The Source Magazine and Paisley Park featuring Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, DJ D-Nice
Sexy MF Dance Party with DJ D-Nice

Saturday, June 10
Special viewing of archival Prince concert footage
Exclusive Listening Sessions of Prince Music from the Vault
For the FAM Panel: A discussion on Prince’s legacy featuring Rodney Fitzgerald, Casey Rain, Kim Camilia, Dr. Funkenberry, and De Angela Duff
VIP Lunch in NPG  
7 Panel: An exploration of Prince and the significance behind the number 7
Rosie Gaines legacy award tribute
Sounds of Blackness live performance
Stokley live performance
VIP Dinner in Soundstage
Club 3121: Tribute to Prince and Tina Turner with DJ Rashida
+ Live Music Tribute To Tina Turner

Sunday, June 11
VIP Gospel brunch with Known MPLS Choir catered by Prince’s private chef Juell Roberts, and Ray Roberts with Peoples Organic

The post Paisley Park’s Annual Celebration Set to Kick Off, Honoring Prince’s Legacy appeared first on The Source.

Shutter Success: Prince Photographer Triumphs in Epic Copyright Battle at Supreme Court

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Today the Supreme Court announced its decision in a copyright case with major implications for the art and entertainment industries, ruling against the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts (AWF) in favor of celebrity photographer Lynn Goldsmith

The case centered around Andy Warhol’s use of a photo of the singer Prince as part of a silkscreen series he created depicting the iconic rock star.  In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that the AWF’s use of Goldsmith’s photograph was not a “fair use” that would immunize it from infringing her copyright.

Fair use is a doctrine enshrined in copyright law that promotes freedom of expression by allowing the use of copyrighted works under certain, limited circumstances without requiring the copyright owner’s authorization.  This case has been followed closely by many in the art and entertainment field because it has significant implications for creating and protecting copyrighted works going forward.  

This is the first art fair use case decided by the Supreme Court since 1994 when it ruled that rap group 2 Live Crew’s parody of the song “Oh Pretty Woman” was fair use and did not infringe the copyright.

Goldsmith originally took the photograph of Prince for Newsweek magazine in 1981.  Subsequently, Vanity Fair magazine commissioned Andy Warhol to create an image of Prince to be published as part of a story about the artist and credited Goldsmith for the underlying photograph.  Warhol created fourteen silkscreens based on Goldsmith’s photograph, most of which she did not authorize.   Goldsmith only learned of these unauthorized works after Prince’s death.  After AWF sued her, seeking a declaration that the silkscreens did not infringe her copyright, she countersued in 2017.  The case has been making its way through the courts since then.

Initially, the District Court found in favor of AWF, holding that it had made fair use of Goldsmith’s photograph because Warhol’s silkscreen had “transformed Prince from a vulnerable, uncomfortable person to an iconic, larger-than-life figure,” thereby satisfying the crucial “transformative’ requirement for fair use.  However, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed this decision, holding that a “transformative purpose” must “at bare minimum, comprise something more than the imposition of another artist’s style on the primary work.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor affirmed the Second Circuit’s decision in her majority opinion.  Agreeing that the imposition of an artist’s style was not sufficiently transformative, she focused on the specific use of Goldsmith’s photograph that she claimed to be infringing – the licensing of Warhol’s silkscreen image to Conde Nast.  She held that such use was not transformative because it served the same commercial purpose as Goldsmith’s photograph – depicting Prince in a magazine.

Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Chief Judge John Roberts, filed a dissenting opinion in which she criticized the majority for ignoring the creativity that had gone into Warhol’s silkscreens and basing its entire “transformative” analysis on the commercial purpose of the use (i.e., the license to Conde Nast).  In response, Sotomayor wrote that the dissent “misses the forest for a tree,” because its “single-minded focus on the value of copying ignores the value of original works.”

In this case, the decision represents a change in how fair use will be applied in copyright cases across the country, and the extent to which artists can incorporate existing works into their own work without incurring liability for copyright infringement.  It remains to be seen exactly how it will be applied and what effect it may have on creative industries.

The post Shutter Success: Prince Photographer Triumphs in Epic Copyright Battle at Supreme Court appeared first on The Source.

Supreme Court Delivers Verdict Against Andy Warhol in Landmark Copyright Case Involving Prince Images

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On Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Andy Warhol violated the copyrights of a photographer by using her images of late music icon Prince in one of his screen print creations.

Lynn Goldsmith, one of music’s most storied photographers who also have historic images of industry titans like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, captured the legend’s image. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled seven to two, in the decision that Warhol did not make legal “fair use” of the photos.

According to Billboard, Warhol’s attorneys argued for re-using images in hopes of not “chill” creativity. Instead, they received a verdict, led by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, stating Warhol was going for the same commercial purpose as Goldsmith.

“Lynn Goldsmith’s original works, like those of other photographers, are entitled to copyright protection, even against famous artists,” Sotomayor wrote.

The case is the first time in over 30 years the Supreme Court heard a case on creative works and fair use. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Music Publishers’ Association pushed for a limited understanding of fair use as it was “critical to the American music industry.”

Following the rulling, the RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier issued a statement to The Source:

“We applaud the Supreme Court’s considered and thoughtful decision that claims of ‘transformative use’ cannot undermine the basic rights given to all creators under the Copyright Act. Lower courts have misconstrued fair use for too long and we are grateful the Supreme Court has reaffirmed the core purposes of copyright. We hope those who have relied on distorted – and now discredited – claims of ‘transformative use,’ such as those who use copyrighted works to train artificial intelligence systems without authorization, will revisit their practices in light of this important ruling.”

The Warhol creation in question was included in the 1984 article in Vanity Fair called “Purple Fame.” The image was licensed by Goldsmith in 1981, but Warhol would go on to create a dozen other versions which were sold off to art collectors and museums. Those additional versions were not licensed with Goldsmith. When Prince passed, Condé Nast magazine re-used Warhol’s image, again without proper licensing, leading to dueling lawsuits between both sides.

In 2019, a federal judge leaned into “transformative use” stating Warhol’s creations “transformed Prince from a vulnerable, uncomfortable person to an iconic, larger-than-life figure.” A 2021 decision overturned the ruling, leading to the Supreme Court. case.

“If the last century of American art, literature, music, and film is any indication, the existing copyright law, of which today’s opinion is a continuation, is a powerful engine of creativity,” Sotomayor wrote.

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Prince’s Estate Is Opening His Vault For Its Annual Paisley Park Celebration And Giving Fans Tours

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Each year, Paisley Park, Prince‘s home and production studio holds its Celebration, honoring Prince’s impact and legacy. In 2023, the Celebration will take place on June 8-11 with appearances from the likes of Chaka Khan, Chuck D, The Steels, and Sounds Of Blackness. However, the biggest selling point of the announcement is being met with a mixed reception.

While the Prince Legacy Tribute show is definitely a draw, Prince’s estate has announced that it’ll be opening the singer’s legendary vault for tours of the complex, presenting some of his unreleased music. The number seven is said to feature prominently in the proceedings, as it’s the seventh anniversary of his death on April 21, 2016, and the number seven was significant to him throughout his life — he was born on June 7, and frequently referenced the number in his music.

A statement released by Paisley Park touches on the power of this digit in Prince’s life, reading, “This year marks 7 years of uplifting Prince’s legacy and carefully preserving his prolific artistic output and his creative sanctuary. At Celebration 2023, guests will take a deep dive into understanding the cultural significance of 7 and how it has been reflected throughout history.”

However, some fans misread the news on Twitter, believing that “opening the vault” means releasing music he never wanted the public to hear and disrespecting his wishes. It doesn’t seem that that is completely the case, but it does sound like there’s a possibility some of his unreleased work will finally be heard. Whether that’s a good thing depends on where you stand on statements he made before his death.

You can find more information about Celebration 2023 here.

Prince To Be Honored With A Highway Named After Him In Minnesota

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The late legendary singer Prince will soon be honored with a highway named after him in Minnesota. The Minnesota Senate recently voted overwhelmingly to rename a seven-mile stretch of State Highway 5, the Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway. Highway Renaming The bill to rename the highway in Prince’s honor passed the Minnesota State House unanimously […]

The post Prince To Be Honored With A Highway Named After Him In Minnesota appeared first on SOHH.com.

The Weeknd’s New Music For ‘The Idol’ Was Inspired By Pink Floyd And Prince, He Explained

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The Weeknd is gearing up for the premiere of his upcoming HBO series The Idol, which he co-created alongside Euphoria‘s Sam Levinson. Over the past few weeks, the “Blinding Lights” singer has been teasing new music for the series.

He previewed some new music via Instagram Live, which sounded rather dark and ominous.

In a recent interview with Interview, The Weeknd revealed that he has produced an entire album to accompany the show. He also shared that he had been listening to iconic albums by Pink Floyd and Prince for inspiration.

“I’ve been inspired by The Wall and Purple Rain,” said The Weeknd.” “But even films like Shaft, the music is literally telling the story of the film. But I want to take it to the next level. I want to challenge myself and I feel like, as a musician, I’m the best I’ve ever been. But I have ADD. I can’t focus on just that. It’s like, how do I throw a wrench in it?”

Elsewhere in the interview, The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, revealed that his character, Tedros, who is a cult leader, is someone who appeals to him, but he insists he is nothing like him.

“I wrote him,” he said, “but what drew me to play him was just getting to pretend to be someone else. It was a challenge, because The Weeknd, obviously, isn’t me. But I drew a lot from myself to create that character. Tedros is nothing like me.”

The Idol premieres 6/4 on HBO and will be available for streaming on Max.

A Running List Of Artists Who Sold All Or A Portion Of Their Music Catalogs

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Artists selling all, or even a portion, of their catalogs and publishing rights has become a recent occurrence, as several large-scale performers and bands have made massive deals.

The most recent, Metro Boomin, reportedly sold part of his for $70 million to Shamrock Capital — although not much is known about the deal’s specifics yet.

On the heels of the news, Uproxx has also explored why artists are selling their catalogs, for those who are interested in the aspects that lead to it.

Below, find a list of artists who have sold away the rights to their songs, according to research from A Journal Of Musical Things. Click the link in the performer’s name to find out the full details of their deal.

1. Bob Dylan
2. Neil Young
3. Stevie Nicks
4. Imagine Dragons
5. Whitney Houston
6. Chris Issak
7. Prince’s estate
8. Christine McVie
9. Trevor Rabin
10. The O’Jays
11. Tina Turner
12. The Weeknd
13. Drake
14. Justin Bieber
15. Bing Crosby
16. Gerry Goffin
17. Luther Vandross
18. Mike Scott of The Waterboys
19. Jeff Porcaro
20. Motley Crue
21. Jim Peterik
22. James Brown
23. Bruce Springsteen
24. ZZ Top
25. David Bowie
26. John Legend
27. Matt Redman
28. Nancy Wilson of Heart
29. Paul Rodgers
30. Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America
31. Kenny Chesney
32. Travis Tritt
33. Luis Fonsi
34. Murda Beatz
35. Def Leppard
36. Robbie Robertson of The Band
37. The estates of Layne Staley and Mike Starr of Alice In Chains
38. Alice in Chains’ music
39. David Crosby
40. Disturbed
41. The Killers
42. Lindsey Buckingham
43. Barry Manilow
44. Richie Sambora
45. Dave Stewart
46. Blondie
47. Chrissie Hynde
48. Air Supply
49. Culture Club
50. Devo
51. Jim Vallance
52. Ryan Tedder
53. Shakira
54. KT Tunstall
55. Mick Fleetwood
56. Ed Roland
57. Bob Rock
58. Sun Records
59. Massive Attack
60. Silverchair
61. Beach Boys
62. David Crosby
63. Glenn Tipton
64. Carole Bayer Sager
65. Linda Ronstadt
66. Paul Simon
67. Patrick Leonard
68. Red Hot Chili Peppers
69. Andrew Watt
70. David Guetta
71. Beyoncé
72. Timbaland
73. Justin Timberlake
74. Olivia Newton-John
75. Nicky Chinn
76. Leo Sayer
77. Alee Willis
78. Bob Ezrin
79. Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues
80. Dave Navarro
81. Tom Cochrane
82. Boston
83. Styx
84. Rihanna
85. Ariana Grande
86. Kendrick Lamar
87. Pat Benatar
88. Otis Redding
89. Jack Antonoff
90. Jimmy Iovine
91. Journey
92. Steve Winwood
93. Tom DeLonge
94. The Chainsmokers
95. Brendan O’Brien
96. Bernard Edwards
97. B-52s
98. Kaiser Chiefs
99. Mark Ronson
101. Nikki Sixx
102. Skrillex
103. Rick James
104. Korn
105. James Newton Howard
106. Sting
107. John Lee Hooker
108. Jason Aldean
109. Neil Diamond
110. Lionel Hampton
111. Thelonious Monk
112. Leonard Cohen
113. Martina McBride
114. The estate of Nat King Cole
115. Swedish House Mafia
116. Bob Dylan’s share of the Traveling Wilburys catalog
117. Julian Casablancas
118. Tom Whitlock
119. Frank Zappa
120. Simple Minds
121. Jean-Michel Jarre
122. Matt Sorum
123. Brad Paisley
124. Lady A
125. Deryck Whibley
126. Chuck D of Public Enemy
127. Future
128. Avicii
129. Genesis’ Phil Collins, Tony Banks, and Mike Rutherford
130. Blake Shelton
131. Joey Ramone
132. Louis Prima
133. Huey Lewis and the News
134. Ashley Gorley
135. Harry Nilsson
136. Shannon Rubicam and George Merrill of Boy Meets Girl
137. Iggy Azalea
138. Peter Frampton
139. Keith Urban
140. Steve Lillywhite
141. Dr. Dre
142. Robbie Krieger and the estate of Ray Manzarek of The Doors
143. Yes
144. Dion
145. TMS
146. Stevie Van Zandt
147. Tobias Jesso Jr
148. Christopher Cross
149. Warren Cuccurullo
150. Metro Boomin
151. Juice WRLD

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Kristin Chenoweth Went On A Memorable (And Delightfully Weird) Date With Prince

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Whether he was hanging out with the Muppets, cameoing on New Girl, or serving pancakes following a game of basketball, Prince was as unpredictable as he was brilliant. He also knew how to plan a memorable date.

On Friday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, Pushing Daisies actress Kristin Chenoweth revealed that she was once wooed by The Purple One.

Chenoweth didn’t believe it was Prince at first, understandably so, but she agreed to a date at Paisley Park once she confirmed that it wasn’t an elaborate prank. “I’m sweating bullets, I’m so nervous,” she recalled. “And here comes, ‘click, click, click, click.’ Prince’s heels, right? Comes in. He was like, ‘Hi.’ I was like, ‘I’d like to party like it’s 1999 and wear my raspberry beret.’” Prince was not amused (at least go with deep cuts, jeez), but things improved after dinner when they had a “great talk about life, love, faith.”

They made their way to his basement, where he showed her his display of 200 guitars. “He goes, ‘Pick one up. Play one.’ So I picked up this long, white-necked one. I turned it over and it was all scratched. I was like, ‘What happened?’ He goes, ‘Elvis’ belt.’”

Prince then brought Chenoweth to his theater, where “he played a video of Chenoweth performing that he said ‘inspired’ him,” according to Decider (I hope it was this). Prince told her, “What you do is what I like to do. And please never stop.” Chenoweth doesn’t divulge what happened the rest of the night — she doesn’t (sorry Prince) kiss and tell.

You can watch the clip below.

(Via Decider)

Tory Lanez & Prince From “Love & Hip-Hop” Settle Alleged Assault Cases

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Tory Lanez and Love & Hip-Hop: Miami star Prince are reaching a settlement over a number of past assault allegations, reports reveal.

The rapper’s new attorney, Kadisha Phelps has specifically shared that the Brampton native agreed to the financial deal. This comes as part of the lawyer’s plea to further remove the trial date completely.

Tory Lanez discusses his creative process during BMI’s How I Wrote That Song 2018 on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for BMI)

Phelps says she has “information to believe that a settlement has already been reached between the parties and [Lanez] has tendered funds to [Prince] in consummation of their agreement.”

The alleged assaults stem from two separate incidents between the reality star and rapper at two different Miami nightclubs.

The first allegedly took place in November of 2019 at LIV Nightclub. Prince says that Lanez swung his fists and punched him in the face after a verbal confrontation.

The 32-year-old also alleges that the “Say It” singer’s security assaulted him. Ultimately, this caused blunt-force trauma to his back, neck and chest.

The second incident took place when the two got into it at Vendome Nightclub in Miami a year later. Prince claims that the R&B vocalist later let his anger get the best of him again, punching the Love & Hip-Hop star in the face.

A trial date of December 5 was previously set, but Phelps believes it’s no longer necessary. Her client has been busy putting together a defense for the criminal trial involving his alleged shooting of Megan Thee Stallion. That trial will begin next week, on December 12.

Lanez is also allegedly responsible for an assault on fellow artist August Alsina that took place in September. The D.A. is currently looking into this case.

After his last lawyer dropped him for “irreconcilable differences” earlier this year, Phelps began representing the Canadian rapper. She has put in a request for that trial date to move four months.

The 30-year-old is arguing that his actions were self-defense.

Read more about the latest updates in Tory Lanez’s ongoing legal battles and stay tuned for updates.

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