A Prince Of An Exclusive

For one reason or another, we can’t picture Prince shopping at Target. Trying to imagine the Purple One pushing one of those oversized shopping carts through the store, perhaps browsing the new supply of “Clone Wars” bed sheets or heading toward the portrait studio for some inexpensive publicity shots is more than we can wrap our little heads around.

But one thing is certain. If you want the latest CDs by the artist formerly known as a symbol, you’ll have to shop at the store with the bull’s eye on the door.

Photo: AP Photo

Prince performs during the 10th annual Webby awards show in New York City.

That’s because, like other bands and artists striking exclusive deals with retailers, Target will be the only place to buy a new, three-disc set. Two discs – LOtUSFLOW3R and MPLSoUND – are Prince CDs while the third is a new CD by his new artist, Bria Valente.

The price? A budget-friendly $11.98 for the three-CD set.

This is hardly the first time Prince has followed his own beat. Fans purchasing tickets for his unprecedented 21-night stand at London’s O2 Arena also got CDs with their purchases. Prince was also one of the first major artists to sell music directly to fans online.

What’s more, Prince also released a coffee table book of photos taken at his O2 gigs that also included a CD of live performances.

When you think of it, Target may be the best place for Prince’s new CD package. The store chain is known for low prices and good values, and getting two new Prince CDs, as well as a CD by one of the Funkmeister’s new artists, for only $11.98 sounds like a heckuva deal.

And Target likes it too.

“Prince has long been renowned as one of the world’s most original and iconic musical artists,” said the chain’s senior VP of merchandising, Mark Schindele. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share his most recent work with our Target guests.”

The CD set goes on sale in Target stores and the chain’s Web site on March 29.