Prince Rogers Nelson, known by various names but chief among them, Prince, was an enigmatic artist. An unparalleled savant and polymath, he was regaled for playing numerous instruments with a natural flair, as well as his ability to write music in nearly any genre with ease. Since 1978, he released a staggering 39 albums across numerous projects, as well as 5 films including 1984 multimedia-sensation ‘Purple Rain’, which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. His accolades count 7 BRIT Awards, 11 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, and a 2004 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

His passing in 2016 due to an accidental fentanyl overdose, with no signs of foul play, shocked the world of music. Since his death however, Prince’s musical releases have not let up – his unrelenting genius yielded a vault of previously-unheard songs, albums and live footage, as well as fully produced music videos that have still yet to see the light of day. While some items have been leaked as raw bootleg versions, others like 2021’s ‘Welcome 2 America’ received a full studio release through NPG.

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Today, in memory of 10 years since Prince’s death, his estate have released ‘With This Tear’ as part of their annual ‘A Day 2 Reflect | A Night 2 Remember’ observation of his life. The track was recorded in November 1991 at his Paisley Park home studio in Minnesota. It was originally written, recorded and mixed by himself, but has been remixed and mastered by former collaborator Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Chris James, best known for his work with Frank Ocean and Janelle Monáe. Prince gave the song to singer Celine Dion, which appeared on her 1992 self-titled album as a non-single track.

The music video is an emotional tribute to the great man, opening with a short clip of him saying “when I was younger I always said that, one day, I was going to play all kinds of music, and not be judged for the colour of my skin, but the quality of my work. And hopefully that’ll continue.” Footage of his vast career plays behind the gentle ballad, a reminder of how storied his time on his planet was and the still-growing trove of material he has left behind.

‘With This Tear’ is out now on NPG Records in association with Sony’s Legacy Records. It comes ahead of ‘Prince Celebration, 10th Anniversary Celebration of Life’, a vigil which will see 5 days of gathering and remembrance in Prince’s home of Paisley Park in Minneapolis, including performances by his former backing groups New Power Generation and The Revolution. More unreleased recordings by Prince are due to make their emergence later this year in an as-yet unnamed album project.

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The Special Merit Awards Ceremony, where The Clash and other honorees will be celebrated, is scheduled for February 1, 2025, at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. This event precedes the main Grammy Awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena on February 2, 2025.

This year’s #RecordingAcademy‘s Special Merit Awards honorees, from soul-stirring legends to gospel and hip-hop trailblazers, embody a rich tapestry of musical excellence. #GRAMMYs

Learn more: https://t.co/ZKZpzaKm2p pic.twitter.com/PxVnIOGtld

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) December 20, 2024

The Clash, formed in 1976, became one of the most iconic rock bands of their era, known for their intelligent protest and stylish rebellion in the late 70s and early 80s. Their recorded legacy spans five albums, including ‘The Clash’, ‘London Calling’, and ‘Combat Rock’, with their music confronting issues such as racism, violence, drugs, love, and police corruption. The dystopian anthem released in 1979, ‘London Calling’, reflects the social, political, and environmental anxieties of the late 1970s in the UK. 

This Lifetime Achievement Award adds to The Clash’s previous Grammy recognition; they won the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video in 2003 for ‘Westway to the World’.

Strummer’s influence extended far beyond music, as he became a symbol of rebellion, creativity, and activism during his career. The musician co-founded The Clash with Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, and Terry Chimes. The band emerged as part of the first wave of British punk rock. After The Clash disbanded in 1986, Strummer formed Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros in 1999, blending world music, folk, and punk influences.

Strummer was a vocal advocate for various causes, including racial equality, anti-war movements, and environmental protection. He organised and performed at benefit concerts, such as the Rock Against Racism campaign. The Clash’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 further cemented their legacy.

Joe Strummer passed away on December 22, 2002, at age 50 due to an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. The charity Strummerville (The Joe Strummer Foundation) was established in his honour, supporting aspiring musicians and social change projects.

The 2025 Special Merit Awards will also honour other notable artists, including Prince, Frankie Valli, and Taj Mahal, acknowledging their significant impact on the music industry.

O’Connor’s music was streamed 243,000 times from July 24-25, before that number rose to 7.3 million from July 26-27 following the sad news of her death at age 56. Her famous cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” racked up 3.2 million streams alone during the week and amassed an additional 10,000 downloads. UK statistics are yet to be released.

Listen to “Nothing Compares 2 U” below:

The Irish musician and activist was found unresponsive at her London home on July 26th and shortly thereafter pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have yet to disclose an official cause, but have ruled out any possibility of foul play.  

O’Connor, whose death comes 18 months after her 17-year-old son took his own life, had been publicly vocal about her mental health struggles and was hospitalised on her own volition in early 2022 after revealing suicidal thoughts in a string of since-deleted tweets.

Following the tragic news of the singer’s passing, tributes flooded in from all over the world, with many prominent music industry figures sharing touching messages on social media. Bryan Adams wrote: “RIP Sinéad O’Connor, I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats, all my love to your family.”

RIP Sinéad O’Connor, I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats, all my love to your family. pic.twitter.com/49ryuIhGTQ

— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) July 26, 2023

Ian Brown also reminisced about his shared experiences with the singer, a woman he deemed a “beautiful soul”.

RiP SiNEAD O’CONNOR A Beautiful Soul. Hearin Collaborating with and hearing Sinead sing my songs in the studio in Dublin was magical and a highlight of my musical life. A Beautiful soul LOVE TO HER FAMILY X

— Ian Brown (@ianbrown) July 26, 2023

Morrissey and Lily Allen, however, criticised their peers, condemning the empty platitudes offered up by personalities who hadn’t supported O’Connor while she was alive. 

It’s hard not to feel incensed when there are so many people posting about Sinead and how fearless she was, people who would never in a million years align themselves with with anybody who stood for something or had anything remotely controversial to say. It’s so spineless. If…

— Lily Allen (@lilyallen) July 30, 2023

Allen recently took to Twitter to express her dismay at the “spineless” tributes posted by people who only empathised with the Irish singer in death, while the former Smiths frontman released a lengthy message on his website:

“[…] The cruel playpen of fame gushes with praise for Sinéad today…with the usual moronic labels of ‘icon’ and ‘legend’. You praise her now only because it is too late. You hadn’t the guts to support her when she was alive and she was looking for you. […] Music CEOs who had put on their most charming smile as they refused her for their roster are queuing-up to call her a ‘feminist icon’, and 15 minute celebrities and goblins from hell and record labels of artificially aroused diversity are squeezing onto Twitter to twitter their jibber-jabber. […]”

Never one to shy away from controversy, O’Connor was known for her outspoken nature and strong beliefs, consistently bringing attention to issues such as child abuse and women’s rights. In 1992, she famously tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a performance on the TV show Saturday Night Live, in protest of child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Although the stunt attracted much criticism, O’Connor remained undeterred in her activism – in her 2021 memoir she declared that it was more important for her to be a protest singer than a successful pop star.

Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor – whose hit Nothing Compares 2 U propelled her to worldwide fame – dies aged 56https://t.co/Y5fylNGpq4

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 26, 2023

O’Connor, perhaps best known for her cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” struggled with the loss of her son, who died while on suicide watch at Tallaght Hospital. O’Connor was publicly vocal about the mental health struggles that she suffered due to the loss of custody of her son and in her last tweet, expressed how lost she felt without him.

In a statement given to the media, her family said, “it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.” O’Connor is survived by her three children. O’Connor’s fellow artists took to social media to share their condolences and pay tribute to the singer.

pic.twitter.com/6iscpvpjzJ — Massive Attack (@MassiveAttackUK) July 26, 2023

Heavy hearted at the loss of Sinead O’Connor. Wanted to reach out to her often but didn’t.I remember her launch. Astounding presence.Voice that cracked stone with force & by increment. As beautiful as any girl around & never traded on that card. I Loved that about her. Iconoclast

— Alison Moyet (@AlisonMoyet) July 26, 2023

RIP Sinéad O’Connor, I loved working with you making photos, doing gigs in Ireland together and chats, all my love to your family. pic.twitter.com/49ryuIhGTQ — Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) July 26, 2023

Respect to Sinead….. She stood for something… Unlike most people…. Rest Easy.. https://t.co/3nbO3w22zv

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) July 26, 2023

RiP SiNEAD O’CONNOR A Beautiful Soul. Hearin Collaborating with and hearing Sinead sing my songs in the studio in Dublin was magical and a highlight of my musical life. A Beautiful soul LOVE TO HER FAMILY X — Ian Brown (@ianbrown) July 26, 2023

I am gutted by the loss of #SineadOConnor .

She was the warrior poet I expected her to be — wise and visionary, but also hilarious. She and I laughed a lot. We were writing new songs together, which will now never be complete.

We’ve all lost an icon. I’ve lost a friend. #RIP

— Bear McCreary (@bearmccreary) July 26, 2023

When her second cup was taking on the night air, she rose, embraced us all and strode away into the fog-dimmed streetlights. We sat there the four of us and variously expressed the same thing. What an amazing woman. Peace be with your courageous heart Sinéad. — Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 26, 2023

You were so loved by so many #SineadOConnor

This video was taken just 4 months ago at the @choiceprize awards in Dublin and the atmosphere in the room when Sinéad took to the stage was just electric

I’m sorry the world was so cruel to you.
Rest in Power Irish Princess pic.twitter.com/TfnKMl9Q2f

— Siobhán McAndrew (@Shiv_Mc_A) July 26, 2023

Born in Dublin, Ireland, O’Connor released her debut album The Lion And The Cobra in 1987 to popular acclaim but it was her follow up, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got that made her a household name- propelling her into superstardom. The album contained her version of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” The song, written by Prince, was the second single to feature from the album and became a worldwide smash hit.

The album also highlighted O’Connor ‘s ability as a singer, garnering praise for her vocal approach and style. Many publications and commentators also noted her rebellious appearance of shaved head, serious expression and loose fitting clothes. Throughout the late 90s and 2000s, O’Connor continued to release music and contribute as a guest artist on various records although O’Connor’s appeal waned somewhat, despite releasing new albums- much of which also won critical praise.

Known for her brazen and unreserved honesty about her spirituality, activism and mental health struggles-the singer never shied away from controversy, famously tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II during a performance on the TV show Saturday Night Live. A member of Sinn Fein, O’Connor was a supporter of a united Ireland.

By 2014, O’Connor had released ten studio albums and was reportedly working on a new record, No Veteran Dies Alone. In 2021, O’Connor released a memoir called Rememberings to high critical acclaim with the BBC naming it one of the best books of the year.

In 2017, O’Connor officially changed her name to Magda Davitt, citing her wish to break with patriarchal traditions. She also went on to convert to Islam one year later, changing her name a second time to Shuhada Sadaqat and stating that it was a natural progression for an intelligent theologian.

In an initial tweet from the singer’s account, she announced her retirement stating time and tiredness as the central reasons for her decision to leave the music industry.

This is to announce my retirement from touring and from working in the record business. I’ve gotten older and I’m tired. So it’s time for me to hang up my nipple tassels, having truly given my all. NVDA in 2022 will be my last release. And there’ll be no more touring or promo.

— Sinead O’Connor (Shuhada Sadaqat) (@MagdaDavitt77) June 4, 2021

The 54-year-old singer then posted another tweet, which comforts fans by describing how the decision is not bad and that she simply needs to have respite.

It’s not sad news. It’s staggeringly beautiful news. A wise warrior knows when he or she should retreat: #MeTime ❤️ — Sinead O’Connor (Shuhada Sadaqat) (@MagdaDavitt77) June 4, 2021

The ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ singer then proceeds to tweet seemingly reminiscing on her four-decade-long career. She again stresses the decision is based on obtaining some rest whilst helping others achieve their goals.

It’s been a forty year journey. Time to put the feet up and make other dreams come true ; )

— Sinead O’Connor (Shuhada Sadaqat) (@MagdaDavitt77) June 4, 2021

Another tweet then followed swiftly which apologised for the effect in which her retirement would have within the music business itself. Within the tweet, she apologised to booking agents, promoters and managers who may have been blind sighted by the social media activity concerning the shocking news. She also goes on to state how writing and releasing her recent memoir entitled ‘Rememberings’ made her realise that she wanted a new journey. The singer describes how she wants to gain control over her career and not rely on men professionally.

Apologies if any upset caused to booking agents or promoters or managers due to my tweeting about my retirement. I guess the book made me realise I’m my own boss. I didn’t wanna wait for permission from the men, as to when I could announce it. Also, I’d had a few whiskeys : ) — Sinead O’Connor (Shuhada Sadaqat) (@MagdaDavitt77) June 5, 2021

The singer’s news of her retirement has caused a lot of sadness and support from her many fans, with many of them commenting on her posts with well wishes and stories of how her music has helped them within their life. One Twitter user had commented on her initial post asking if tickets will be invalid and if her rescheduled show from 2020 will be cancelled due to the recent news shared on Twitter, the user then concluded the tweet by thanking O’Connor for her music and expresses her excitement to read the singer’s memoir. O’Connor replied to the user and well-wisher by stating that all shows will be cancelled and ended the reply by comparing her ageing to the COVID pandemic.

Yes, all shows which were originally set for 2020, rescheduled to 2021 and then to 2022 are going to be pulled. Because this soldier woman has grown old quicker than covid.

— Sinead O’Connor (Shuhada Sadaqat) (@MagdaDavitt77) June 4, 2021

In other news, O’Connor has recently made some brutal accusations regarding musical legend Prince. She has stated that he was a devil worshipper and has written in her memoir that when she covered his song ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ he had invited her to his house, during this visit she describes how she saw his eyes vanish whilst he was guarding the door to his mansion.

The singer recently gave a revealing interview to The Times in which she tells stories of the arguments in which the two had and claims that the situation became ‘Sinister’. Within the article a passage from her memoir is included which further describes the singer’s wild claims. “That is as true as God, I believe he was involved in Devil business because an old girlfriend of his told me he had the power to make shit move around the room. He got me up there to see: could this bitch be one of mine? I guess he didn’t bank on the Irish in me telling him to go f*** himself.”

Click here to purchase the memoir.

The album will include nine previously unreleased tracks, including those he recorded in his own home studio at the start of his career. It will include earlier versions of some of his most famous hits, including a raw and intimate rendition of Purple Rain.

Prince passed away aged 57 from an accidental painkillers overdose, and was found dead in his home in April of 2016. During his lifetime he sold over 100 million records, spanning every genre from pop, rock, jazz and funk.

Troy Carter, entertainment for the Prince estate, described the record as a “raw, intimate recording – which took place at the start of Prince’s career right before he achieved international stardom” and likened it to “the Piano & A Microphone Tour that he ended his career with in 2016″.

The record is a collaboration between Prince’s estate and Warner Brothers Records, and is available for pre-order now. It will be available for general purchase from September 21st but, if you’re struggling to wait, one single is already available. An early version of Mary Don’t You Weep is currently available to stream or purchase, and can be listened to through Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music.

The album will be available on Tidal as of 2019.

The entertainment advisor of Prince’s estate, Troy Carter said:

I’m very pleased this is resolved, and we get to honor the relationship between Prince and Tidal with this album. We look forward to fans hearing the new music and experiencing the genius of Prince.

The album will be exclusively available on Tidal for 14 days, before physical copies are released.

This will be the first Prince album released since December of 2015, when he released HITnRUN Phase Two, just 4 months before his death at the age of 57.

Jay-Z, one of the many owners of Tidal said:

Our only goal is to share Prince’s music with his fans as he wanted. After thoughtful and honest conversation with him, he chose TIDAL as his partner for HITnRUN Phase One and HITnRUN Phase Two, and we will continue to respect and honour Prince’s enduring legacy and wishes with this new collection.

The album itself drops on Friday April 27, and will be Monae’s first project since 2013’s The Electric Lady. The singer recently explained the the five year wait between albums was greatly influenced by the death of her close friend Prince in 2016.

“This was the person that I would literally call and talk to about sounds or: ‘How should I say this? Is this saying too much?’ I just never could imagine a time where I couldn’t pick up the phone or email him, and he’d contact me right back and we’d talk about all these things that I was unsure of” Monae said of the Purple One.

The 14 track album can be seen listed below, and features the likes of Pharrell Williams, Zoe Kravtiz, Grimes, and the Beach Boys’ head  honcho Brian Wilson on the album’s title track.

1 Dirty Computer [feat. Brian Wilson]
2 Crazy, Classic, Life
3 Take a Byte
4 Jane’s Dream
5 Screwed [feat. Zoë Kravitz]
6 Django Jane
7 PYNK [feat. Grimes]
8 Make Me Feel
9 I Got the Juice [feat. Pharrell Williams]
10 I Like That
11 Stevie’s Dream
12 Don’t Judge Me
13 So Afraid
14 Americans
Three wildly differing singles and videos have already been released in the build to Dirty Computer’s release, in the Prince-heavy ‘Make Me Feel’, the hip-hop influenced ‘Django Jane’, and the dreamy pop song ‘PYNK’ most recently. You can check out the video for that above.

The singer’s music has been absent from most streaming sites for nearly two years, and was only available on Jay-Z’s site Tidal. However, the exclusivity deal that Tidal have in place is due to expire in February, around the time of the Grammys, and Billboard reports that Prince’s estate are close to agreeing a deal to reinstate his music to sites like Spotify. Indeed, it is thought that the Grammys themselves may be used as a platform to make the announcement, coupled with the ceremony’s tribute to Prince. Sources close to billboard report that so far The Weeknd, Rihanna, and Bruno Mars have been approached to perform during the tribute to the Purple one.

Amid the speculation that these reports have caused, Spotfiy themselves has stoked the rumours, by releasing an all purple advert, clearly alluding to Prince, in Manhattan today, as seen in the tweet below.

Do these purple Spotify ads mean what everyone thinks they mean? (That would be, Prince). https://t.co/lfF8JYp1v0 pic.twitter.com/kcqNLqaY6H

— GoMN (@GoMNNews) January 30, 2017

As well as this, Pitchfork and their sources also report that Prince’s estate could well allow his music to return to Apple’s services “very soon”. In November, it was confirmed that Prince’s estate had cleared the way for a potential return to streaming services, when they signed a deal with Universal music, for the singer’s entire catalogue.

Prince: R U Listening will chart the legendary singer’s early years, and his rise to the top of the musical ladder. The film’s story will be told through the eyes of several bandmates, friends, and family members that were close to Prince throughout, including Dez Dickerson, Prince’s first guitar player and Andre Cymone, Prince’s close friend and original bassist in his early project Grand Central.

The film will also feature contributions from collaborators like Sheila E, as well as reflections from famous names like Mick Jagger, Billy Idol, Bono, and Lenny Kravitz. The film will be directed by Michael Kirk, a man best known for his writing, producin, and directing on the US documentary series Frontline. Despite the confirmation of the rights for the film to be produced and distributed, there is no set release date as of yet, with estimations suggesting that the film could land in the second quarter of 2017.

This news follows NME’s announcement of a few days ago that Prince’s Paisley Park estate would be hosting a three day event from April 20-23 2017. The date will mark a full year since Prince’s death from an accidental overdose. Prince had stated prior to his passing that the estate was to be opened to the public as a museum once he died, and bands already confirmed for the commemorative event include former bandmates of Prince The Revolution, Morris Day and The Time, and members of the New Power Generation and 3RDEYEGIRL.

Last week, a previously unreleased track by Prince called ‘Moonbeam Levels’ was also released to the public for the first time, released as a bonus track on a new Prince compilation album called Prince4Ever.