Prince angers retailers with free album

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. rock star Prince gave his latest album away free on Sunday with a tabloid, to the fury of music retailers.

The Minneapolis maverick, renowned for his run-ins with the music establishment, will also give away copies of "Planet Earth" at a series of London concerts starting next month.

Paul Quirk, co-chairman of the Entertainment Retailers Association, said Prince's decision to give away the album, which is not scheduled to go on sale until July 24, with copies of the Mail on Sunday "beggared belief".

"The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores," said Quirk in reference to the 1990s when the star stopped using his name.

"It's an insult to all those record stores who have supported Prince throughout his career," he said.

The innovative funk artist, who has sold 80 million albums worldwide with ground-breaking works like "Purple Rain", is unrepentant.

"It's direct marketing and I don't have to be in the speculation business of the record industry which is going through a lot of tumultuous times right now," he said when asked why he was giving his music away.

A spokesman for the singer told The Mail on Sunday: "Prince's only aim is to get music direct to those who want to hear it."