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Prince Compares Record Label Contracts To "Slavery," Explains New LP Plans

Prince Keeps Playing w/ Our Purple Hearts, Takes Down Music From Every Streaming Service Except TIDAL

Speaking to journalists at Paisley Park studios in Minneapolis, Prince explained his decision to release his new LP, HitNRun, exclusively through streaming service TIDAL, claiming that it all comes down to artistic autonomy.

"Record contracts are just like — I'm gonna say the word – slavery," Prince said late Saturday night. "I would tell any young artist ... don't sign," NPR reports.

"Once we have our own resources, we can provide what we need for ourselves," Prince continued. "Jay Z spent $100 million of his own money to build his own service. We have to show support for artists who are trying to own things for themselves."

Simply put, Prince seems to view TIDAL as a means to freedom--freedom to collaborate with other artists regardless of rights and retainers, and the chance to reap a greater portion of the direct revenue from HitNRun. NPR shared more from Prince's conference:

He advocated seeing artists paid directly from streaming services for use of their music, so that record companies and middlemen couldn't take a share. He also criticized radio giant Clear Channel, saying its dominance of the radio industry homogenized stations across the country.

And TIDAL holdouts can take heart--Prince will also release HitNRun in physical formats, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The new record isn't due out until September 7th, but get a taste Prince new sound directions with "Stare," his extra-funky new single (which, strangely enough, was released via Spotify).