Since the April 2016 death of the (literally) iconic artist Prince, his music has become available on an increasing number of digital platform. After arriving on several streaming services back in February, it has now come to YouTube thanks to a new channel launched by Vevo.
The channel’s initial output consists of six clips, including the official music videos for “Let’s Go Crazy” and “When Doves Cry.” The former track, while never officially available on YouTube, is nonetheless a very significant part of the video site’s legal history. The latter, meanwhile, has stood the test of time as one of Prince’s most iconic tracks.
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While Prince’s fans may rejoice at the increased proliferation of the departed star’s work, he himself had a poor relationship with YouTube. As Billboard notes, he condemned the video site for the poor rates it pays musicians. When asked why he ensured the quick removal of fan footage from his concerts, he replied, “since YouTube doesn’t pay equitable licensing fees, isn’t that a nonsensical question?”
That quote makes me a little uneasy about diving into Prince’s catalog on YouTube, though it is at least nice to know that listeners who are unfamiliar with his artistic brilliance will now have easier access to his library. If you want, here’s your chance to let his music carry you through the rest of your work day:
