NPG Music Club

NPG Music Club was an official website of Prince. Prince won a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for the site in 2006. The site was launched at Studio 54 nightclub.

Membership was either $7.77 for Basic Monthly access or $100 for a premium annual membership. Basic Monthly Membership entitled members a minimum of three new NPG songs each month accompanied by corresponding music videos and a free one-hour radio show hosted by NPG members including Prince featuring music, commentary and original skits. Premium Annual Membership entitled members to preferred seating at all Prince concerts as well as VIP passes to all after shows and parties, plus a free copy of the limited Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic album.^[1] Following complaints about its traffic-heavy ticket section and its inability to deliver promised exclusives, Prince lowered the membership price to $2.50 a month or $25 for a lifetime membership.^[2]

The site had around 400,000 members.^[3] It opened on February 14, 2001 and closed on July 4, 2006.^[4] The site was replaced by 3121.com.

Webby Award

Prince won a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award for the site in 2006.^[5] Tiffany Shlain, founder of the awards, described Prince as a "musical genius" and "a visionary, who recognized early on that the Web would completely change how we experience music."^[6] Prince accepted his Webby Award personally in New York. Following the tradition of the awards in which each winner must only use five words as an acceptance speech, his speech was, "Everything you think is true." He performed an acoustic version of "Don't Play Me" at the ceremony.

Lawsuit

HM Publishing Holdings, a publishing company in England, filed a trademark lawsuit against the site on July 3, 2006, claiming that NPG Music Club infringed on the name of their science book division, called the Nature Publishing Group (also NPG). Prince closed the site 24 hours later. David Schelzel, Prince's attorney, said "Prince's use of the NPG...trademarks is no way in jeopardy", and stated Prince had permission from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to use the name. Despite these events occurring on the same day, Prince's attorney has called it pure coincidence and stated that the site did not close due to the trademark dispute.

Closing email sent to subscribers

Greetings Family, The NPG Music Club has been in xistence 4 more than 5 years. In that time we've learned a great deal from each other and about this brave new online world we have all chosen 2 b part of. The members we have been 4tunate enough 2 have join r family have truly made this the best music club any artist could ever dream of. And all the things we have been a part of 2gether -- the concerts, the celebrations, the soundchecks, the discussions and the un4gettable music -- have shown us what a New Power Generation can truly b. We thank u from r hearts 4 sharing urselves and ur love of the music with all of us. It has been a blessing. Once the NPG Music Club won the 2006 Webby Award, discussions within the NPG began 2 center on what was next. What’s the next step in this ever-changing xperiment? The achievements of the past cannot be questioned and we r truly grateful 4 everything that has been accomplished. But in its current 4m there is a feeling that the NPGMC gone as far as it can go. In a world without limitations and infinite possibilities, has the time come 2 once again make a leap of faith and begin anew? These r ?s we in the NPG need 2 answer. In doing so, we have decided 2 put the club on hiatus until further notice. The NPG Music Club was a first step; the lessons learned will last 4ever. Now comes a time of great reflection and restructuring. The future holds nothing but endless opportunity and we plan on seizing it wholeheartedly. Don’t u want 2 come? Love4oneanother, NPG Music Club 4ever NOTE: We will be sending emales when there is an update.

See also

• List of music released from NPG Music Club

References

1. ^ "Article". ENTERTAINMENT WIRE. February 9, 2001. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-70198052.html. 
2. ^ "Article". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002837775#/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id. 
3. ^ Tyrangiel, Josh (April 12, 2004). "Music: Ready for His New Evolution". Time. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,993803-2,00.html. 
4. ^ Finn, Natalie (July 12, 2006). "Prince Site Fades to Black". E! Online. http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b52791_prince_site_fades_black.html. 
5. ^ "12th Annual Webby Awards Nominees & Winners". The Webby Awards. http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/current.php?season=12. 
6. ^ "Article". The Associated Press. May 31, 2006. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13067058/. 

External links

• The Prince Experience