When Prince Rogers Nelson died on April 21, 2016, the world mourned a singular musical talent. But those of us who worked alongside him in the late 1990s and early 2000s lost something else too — one of the most clear-eyed strategic thinkers the music industry had ever produced, operating at precisely the moment the industry was being turned inside out.
I had the honor and privilege of serving as a trusted advisor to Prince during that period — years when I was also helping shape Apple’s early music efforts, advising companies navigating the new digital landscape (including Napster), and working with Todd Rundgren on PatroNet, one of the earliest platforms built around direct artist-to-fan relationships. It was an extraordinary vantage point. And Prince, more than almost anyone I encountered, understood what was truly at stake.
Learn more on the article I recently published on this here.