HMV To Stock Free Prince Album

Prince’s decision to give away his new album ‘Planet Earth’ for free with the Mail On Sunday is causing yet more rows in the music world.

As previously reported on Gigwise retailers such as HMV and Virgin had heavily criticised the move which followed on from the Mike Oldfield/ ‘Tubular Bells’ row.

However, HMV have now taken the unprecedented decision to stock the Mail On Sunday on the day the album is given away for free.

A spokesman for HMV told 6Music that the decision was taken because they did not want the Prince release to “pass them by”.

Genaro Castaldo added: “We just feel that it’s totally inappropriate on a day when a major album is coming out by a major iconic artist that record stores shouldn’t be in any way involved with that.

“It’s perverse really, and I think that our customers would expect us to find a way to make it available to them.

"Cover-mounts are damaging the industry as a whole; an industry that both Virgin and HMV operate in.”

Castaldo also defended Prince’s decision to give away the album for free, adding: “Prince has always been a maverick, always done his own thing.

“I certainly don’t foresee an avalanche of artists making their music available in this way. It is pretty exceptional. We’re just responding to this unique situation.”

Virgin Megastores have in turn attacked the decision with PR & Promotions manager Stephen Lynn saying: “Only two weeks ago HMV’s Chief Executive was condemning the Mail on Sunday giveaway as ‘absolute madness’.

“So for them to suddenly change their mind and actually stock the paper, that’s what we find hard to believe.

“Cover-mounts are damaging the industry as a whole; an industry that both Virgin and HMV operate in.”