Music
A controversial newspaper giveaway of Prince's new album is to go ahead this weekend.
Copies of Planet Earth, not yet released in the UK, will come free with The Mail on Sunday in an industry first.
The move has sparked anger among retailers, who fear it is another nail in the coffin of CD sales, while the singer's label, Sony BMG, is refusing to release it. HMV plans to sell the paper itself on Sunday.
Some 26 million albums were given away by the publication last year as part of an effort to boost sales, but it is the first time a new release has been involved.
It has confirmed it is paying Prince but has refused to confirm a one-off fee of £275,000. Prince is also getting 7.15p per disc in royalties - said to amount to more than he would receive through traditional sales.
The Record Stores Trade Association has said it is a blow and offensive to retailers but the artist says he is "giving the music back to the fans".
Copies of Planet Earth, not yet released in the UK, will come free with The Mail on Sunday in an industry first.
The move has sparked anger among retailers, who fear it is another nail in the coffin of CD sales, while the singer's label, Sony BMG, is refusing to release it. HMV plans to sell the paper itself on Sunday.
Some 26 million albums were given away by the publication last year as part of an effort to boost sales, but it is the first time a new release has been involved.
It has confirmed it is paying Prince but has refused to confirm a one-off fee of £275,000. Prince is also getting 7.15p per disc in royalties - said to amount to more than he would receive through traditional sales.
The Record Stores Trade Association has said it is a blow and offensive to retailers but the artist says he is "giving the music back to the fans".
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