Legend set example for today’s artists

Music legend Prince left as big a mark behind the scenes of the recording industry as he did on his millions of fans.
The artist waged a relentless campaign for control over his music empire as the Internet era dawned. His crusade left a playbook for stars like Taylor Swift and Adele, who now have the power to dictate how and where their songs get played.
It cost him plenty. Spats with record labels kept the legendary performer’s music from reaching the widest possible audience. At one point, he dropped his name for an ankh-like symbol, making it tough to advertise his recordings.
Whoever gains control of the full catalog, valued at $100 million or more, will have to decide whether to make the rocker’s songs available for commercial ditties, a source of revenue that Prince himself shunned.
“He just never wanted to be taken advantage of,” said L. Lee Phillips, a lawyer who represented Prince for about 12 years. “Certainly, he is going to leave somewhat of a legacy, artists standing up for themselves – but not as strong as his legacy performing and playing.”
After leaving Warner, Prince formed his own label, funding and started recording his own work. He signed a series of one-off deals with groups including Sony Corp.’s Columbia, retaining ownership over his master recordings. MDT/Bloomberg