Prince's own words describe mixed feelings about the web
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prince had a fraught relationship with the Internet, and mourning fans searching YouTube to remember his greatest years might be disappointed to find out that much of it isn't there.
For good reason: he was adamant about protecting his copyrights, owned the song publishing rights to his music, and vigorously pursued online outlets that used it without permission.
In the interview, he complains that outlets like iTunes don't pay advances for music and compares the Internet to a passing fad like MTV.
In a June 2011 interview with The Guardian's Dorian Lynskey, Prince says he can't stand digital music, nor the cacophony of ringtones it enables.
Prince explains his Internet comment to AP's Nekesa Mumbi Moody in an exclusive interview at his Paisley Park compound in September 2014, even as he queues up songs on YouTube from artists such as James Brown and FKA Twigs.
[...] the interview is removed at Prince's request, according to Billboard and all that remains on Ebony's website now is Prince's insistence that artist ownership of the means of distribution is important.