PRINCE: Still In The 'Major' Leagues

By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Prince has mastered the game of musical chairs.

In his case, it's more like "major music label chairs."

Since 1999, the 49-year-old musical genius has released music on three major labels (Arista, Columbia and Motown, respectively) -- which is unheard of in this day and age.

And for the most part, the major label runs have turned into a successful trek.

Last year's '3121' landed atop of The Billboard 200, much to the chagrin of a fickle hip-pop 'American Idol' compilation loving music buying public.

And the Minneapolis born superstar -- who worked over the entire unvierse with is half time showing at this year's 'SuperBowl' -- is showing no signs of slowing down.

With the recent announcement of a Hollywood hotel residency and an upcoming European tour, his own fragrance line, a magazine and even a much buzzed about mobile communications campaign, the dimunitive man legally known as Prince Roger Nelson is continuing his hot streak with a new deal on Columbia Records.

This morning, the label's new media marketing executive Kathy Baker confirmed to 'The BV Newswire,' that Prince will continue his purple reign with a new deal on the Sony-distribtued musical empire.

The new album 'Planet Earth' -- the latest full-length studio collection from the multi-platinum Grammy Award winner -- is expected to hit stores July 24.'Guitar,' the first single from the opus was serviced to all radio formats yesterday. The track is available for free, for a limited promotional period, exclusively from Verizon Wireless. Prince's long-term musical protégés, Wendy & Lisa, are among the musicians appearing on the new project.

"'Planet Earth' is a fantastic album and promises to be a musical milestone for Prince," said Sony Music chief Rob Stringer. "The Columbia label is thrilled to be working with an iconic artist like Prince in this exciting stage of his amazing career."

In 2004, Columbia released his critically acclaimed 'Musicology,' which peaked at No. 3 on the 'Billboard' charts. The album garnered two Grammy Awards, in the "Best Male R&B Vocal Performance," and "Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance" categories.

BV Extras:

Celebrate Black Music Month with Black Voices.

Still Hot to Trot -- See the video of 'Black Sweat' ...

Relive His Purple Reign -- See the video of 'Purple Rain' ...