I'm not as "in-the-know" as some folks around here, but from the reading I've done here's how it works..I think:

At least 90% of the time, singles are picked by label executives. The level of the executive making the choices will change depending on the label and the artist. In some cases the prez of the label will pick singles (ie. Clive Davis), in other cases it will be someone lower on the ladder.

For the other 10%, I think it depends on the artist's contract. In the mid 80s (post-Purple Rain), Warner Bros. allowed Prince to pick his singles. Before that, they picked all of them. By the early 90s, they picked half and he picked half. I would think most major artists (multi-multi-platinum, upper eschelon, big name, marquis stars) have deals like that. Especially those who get producer credits.

The decisions on singles are based on one issue...MONEY. If the label believes they can make money off an album, they'll release singles. All albums get a lead-off single (except in rare cases like Radiohead's Kid A), and if that one doesn't work (meaning if album sales go no where) then there won't be anymore...which means the label has given up on the album. So the choice of first single is KEY. Back in the days when labels took time to nurture an artist (and when fans had longer attention spans) there wasn't so much riding on that first single. But these days it's "Rise and Fly". Jill is lucky to be at a small label where most of the attention is on her. If she'd been signed on, say, Columbia...her career would be dead. Her first single was "Love Rain", and it went nowhere.

Now, watch somebody come in behind me w/more info and shoot me down....lol


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May is Fuck You If You Don't Like Prince Month at Okayplayer.

When it comes to lust/Then I must confess/I feel it everyday..."Soft & Wet"

I ain't got no money/I ain't like those other guys u hang around..."I Wanna Be Your Lover"

Now where I come from/We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be/Our clothes, our hair we don't care/It's all about being there..."Uptown"

I strangled Valentino/U been mine ever since/If anybody ask u/U belong 2 PRINCE/Come on, baby/Get up!..."Private Joy"

Lady, I'm so lonely/I know that's not the way 2 be/Don't want isolation, but the air it makes me cold/Drive it, baby, drive it/Drive this demon out of me..."Lady Cab Driver"

Where is my love life?/Where has it gone?/Somebody please please tell me what the hell is wrong..."Computer Blue"

There was a woman from the ghetto who made funny faces/Just like Clara Bow/How was I 2 know that she would wear the same cologne as u/And giggle the same giggle that u do/Whenever I would act a fool/The fool with a condition of the heart..."Condition Of The Heart"

Love will conquer if u just believe..."Mountains"

We wanna play in the sunshine/We wanna be free/Without the help of a margarita or ecstasy..."Play In The Sunshine"

When we be makin love/I only hear the sounds/Of heavenly angels cryin' above/Tears of joy pourin' down on us..."Adore"

Who? Prince? Ain't that a bitch! That skinny motherfucker with the high voice? Please, who do I look like, baby? Yesterday's fool?..."Bob George"

If I see 11/U could say it's 7/Still I wish u heaven/I wish u love..."I Wish U Heaven"

My brain is jackin' all over the place/Oh!/If a man is considered guilty 4 what goes on in his mind then give me the electric chair 4 all my future crimes, y'all..."Electric Chair"

Why can't u love me, baby?..."Joy In Repetition"

It's just around the corner/It's just around the block, this/Love that I've been waiting for/A love solid as rock/A love that reaffirms that we are not alone/A love so bright inside u it glows..."Still Would Stand All Time"

Love, nobody know just how it was born/Love 1st came 2 me with the radio on..."Thunder"

My name is Prince/I don't wanna be King/Cuz I've seen the top/And it's just a dream..."My Name Is Prince"

Ooh/There I go again/Fallin in love all over/Ooh, the cycle never ends/Ya just pray ya don't get burned..."Pink Cashmere"

Minor G is the chord of pleasure/It will be played 11 measures/U will see fire, but u're cool as ice/U're a liar if u say this isn't nice..."Power Fantastic"

I've had dreams of us/Cuddling on the planet Mars/Then when I wake up/Oooh/I'm all covered in sex..."Space"

U need a motherfucker that respects ya name..."P Control"

Introduce the carpet 2 something other than your knees..."Dinner With Delores"

We're like 2 petals from the same flower, baby/We're like 2 branches from the same tree..."Saviour"

How many times can u hurt me?/Will your conscience make u stop?/Damn it all, why not desert me?/Baby, u know u'll never cop..."Last Heart" (aka "If U Break My Heart 1 More Time")

20 days in London/U ain't gimme no love/Could it be another Brother Man/That u're thinkin of?/Or could it be your girlfriend who ain't never been straight/When I ask u are ya hungry/U say u already ate..."Come On"

Everywhere I go, people stop and stare/They just wanna see me swing this pretty hair/If there ever comes a time when it just won't grow/I'll do it like my brother, and buy some mo'..."Pretty Man"