As indie retail chain Fopp announced it has gone into administration, SonyBMG amazed the rest of the music industry yesterday as it revealed that Prince is to issue his forthcoming album as a free cover-mount with the Daily Mail prior to its official release date in the UK.

SonyBMG have now pulled out of releasing the album in Britain in order to appease music retailers who are understandably outraged.

The cart before the horse concept comes on the back of a set of alternative offerings from the diminutive pop icon. Attendees at his (heavily discounted) O2 shows were already in line to receive a free copy of the album with their ticket purchase.

The music industry was recently up in arms over a decision by EMI to offer Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' as a cover-mount, so the news of an album being issued free before it goes on sale will no doubt be met with widespread disdain.

Source: business.guardian.co.uk