Apparently, 1 billion views on YouTube wasn't enough for Lady Gaga. Just this week she broke another Internet record – the 24-year-old artist reached 10 million friends on Facebook, more than any other living person on the planet (A Michael Jackson tribute page has more than 14 million members). One would think her online popularity would inspire all musicians to recognize the value of social media, but while Gaga is making headlines for her Web-fuelled prosperity, one of the world's most famous singers is getting attention for his apparent disdain for the Internet.
The artist formerly known as someone who matters recently told the UK's Daily Mirror that “the Internet’s completely over.” Prince went on to say that he didn't want to give his music to iTunes or any other electronic music distributor, stating that “They won't pay me an advance for it and then they get angry when they can't get it.” He also complained that gadgets are evil, commenting that “they just fill your head with numbers and that can't be good.” Huh? If you try logging on to the musician's official website, it appears dead to the world.
One of my online friends hinted that Prince's now famous Daily Mirror interview is nothing more than a publicity stunt to promote his new album, but this stunt is heading in the wrong direction. Here's just one example of thousands of tweets on the topic, most of them poking fun at the artist: “Prince says Internet is over, saddles Old Bess, rides to town to mail new album to 18 fans who want it on CD,” tweets @jasonfharper. And another: “Man, I hope Prince doesn't get mad at these jokes when they eventually get back to him via Western Union telegram,” writes @renatak
I have been a Prince fan for many years. However, right now the only song that I can remember is his famous hit 1999. There is part of me that thinks the artist wishes he was still partying like it was 1989, long before the big bad Internet rained on his purple parade.
While I'd love to keep supporting Prince, I think it's the end of the road for us. Although deep down I believe he is a more talented musician than Lady Gaga, if his music isn't available, there is little chance that it makes its way into my life. As for Lady Gaga, I suspect this is just the beginning of her record-breaking headlines, online and offline.
