New Prince Album To Be Given Away Free

The decision to give away Prince’s new album free with a Sunday newspaper has been attacked by music retailers.

‘Planet Earth’ is set to be made available with an “imminent” edition of the Daily Mail according to an announcement by the paper yesterday.

The album is set to go on general release from July 24 meaning the newspaper will be the first place in the world fans can get their hands on the album.

However, the Entertainment Retailers Association have hit out at the decision saying that it “beggars belief”.

ERA co-chairman Paul Quirk said: "It would be yet another example of the damaging covermount culture which is destroying any perception of value around recorded music.

"The Artist Formerly Known as Prince should know that with behaviour like this he will soon be the Artist Formerly Available in Record Stores. And I say that to all the other artists who may be tempted to dally with the Mail on Sunday."

HMV chief executive Simon Fox was equally scathing, saying: "I think it would be absolutely nuts. I can't believe the music industry would do it to itself.

“I simply can't believe it would happen; it would be absolute madness."

This latest uproar comes after Mike Oldfield voiced his anger about the Sunday Mail giving away two million copies of his ‘Tubular Bells’ album last month.