Prince ordered to pay almost $4 million to perfume company

Prince has been forced to pay $3.95 million for lacking to promote a perfume inspired by his 2006 album. Photo via Wiki Commons.

Prince’s method of promoting one of his albums back in 2006 is causing some controversy resulting in the musician losing out on nearly $4 million.

The Purple Rain singer was ordered by a New York judge on Friday to pay $3.95 million to Revelations Perfume and Cosmetics after failing to promote a fragrance inspired by his 3121 album.

According to the perfume company, Prince and Universal Music Publishing Group signed a licensing agreement in 2006 under which they were promised 50 percent of any profits made from the product with the expectation that the pop star would promote the fragrance through media and in-store appearances. Two years later, Revelation sued Prince for not holding up his supposed end of the deal and costing the company millions.

While lawyers for Prince argued that Revelations was well aware that the singer would not do interviews in association with the perfume, the judge ruled that singer informed the company of this way after signing the licensing agreement and sent “mixed messages” about his involvement with the product for some time.

Despite this ruling, the judge found no malicious intent on the part of Prince for his promotion efforts or lack thereof.