Unpacking the Enigma Behind Prince’s Symbolic Name Change

Prince Changes Name to Unpronounceable Symbol: 30 Years Later

Background

In what was perhaps one of the most unprecedented reinventions in music, Prince famously changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol on his 35th birthday, 30 years ago. While the exact motivation behind the name change remains unclear to this day, many assumed it was as a ploy to get out of his contract with Warner Bros. Records, which had just been renewed in a “$100 million deal.”

The Symbol and Its Origin

The symbol, which was originally a combination of gender symbols for male and female, previously appeared in a slightly different form in the artwork of several Prince albums. However, because the original symbol could not be copyrighted, Prince hired Minneapolis design studio HDMG to alter it, adding a horn-like element. He copyrighted that version and first used it as the unpronounceable title of his otherwise title-less 1992 album, commonly referred to as “Love Symbol.”

The Significance of the Name Change

Prince was known for his provocative and often strange behavior. He frequently used symbols, such as an eye for “I” or numbers (such as 4 for “for”), in his album artwork, but the name change took things to a new level. Was it a joke, a trick, a stunt to get him out of his label contract, or had he finally lost it? There was no simple answer, and it’s hard not to imagine the ensuing bemusement, amusement, and chatter were all part of his plan, such as it was.

Prince‘s Explanation for the Name Change

Prince was never one to offer a conventional explanation. “Very simply, my spirit directed me to do it,” he told MTV News’ Kurt Loder in 1999. “Once I changed my name, it had no effect on me.” He was slightly more expansive to Larry King that year, saying, “I had to search deep within my heart and spirit, and I wanted to make a change and move to a new plateau in my life.” He divorced himself from the past and the hangups that went along with it, suggesting that issues about ownership of his music and how often he was supposed to record with Warner Bros. Records caused problems that could never be resolved.

Response from Warner Bros.

At the time, Warner Bros. Records was not about to cede to Prince’s demands to release music as often as he wanted or to have ownership of his recordings. So, when Prince finally left the company in 1996, he was painting the word “Slave” on his face. Twenty years later, he signed a new, two-album deal with the label.

Conclusion

The name change was undoubtedly a bold move for Prince. It sparked controversy and conversation, as intended. 30 years later, the name change still stands as one of the most significant moments in music history, reminding us of the power of personal reinvention and the importance of artistic independence.