The Artist (Formerly Known As Prince)

[Note to submitters: When the visual emblem appears on the release without any words, please credit “as is” to this entry, ; no ANVs required. Only use “Artist Name Variations” for rare credits with informal substitutes printed in text (typically, demos/promos, regional compilations, and unofficial releases). If the credit is specifically for “The Symbol or variants printed in text, please use .

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (T.A.F.K.A.P), sometimes simply The Artist or The Symbol/Love Symbol, is an informal substitute for an unpronounceable symbol used by as his official stage moniker for seven years, between June 1993 and May 2000, amidst his feud with Warner Bros. Records. Thriving to distribute all new music immediately and to experiment with formats and packaging, Prince perceived the label’s adherence to conventional release scheduling as “tyranny” and oppression of his creative freedoms. In protest, Prince disavowed his birth name and instead adopted an unpronounceable symbol to demonstrate the artist was “reduced to zero” and entirely lost control over his identity. He produced seven albums as the Symbol, mostly via his NPG Records imprint, before re-adopting the “Prince” name on album in November 2001. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. issued three Prince albums and one “Best Of” compilation during the same period, relieving him from contractual obligations upon the release of in August 1999.

The visual emblem, commissioned from LA-based graphic artist Mitch Monson, blended traditional planetary gender symbols, “female” Venus ♀, “male” Mars ♂, and “hermaphrodite” Mercury ☿, with the Egyptian “key of life,” or ankh hieroglyph ☥, also resembling 𝄞/𝄢 clefs.

Prince held the press conference in New York City on May 16th 2000, announcing he stopped using the “Symbol” as the artistic alias, fully re-embracing his birth and stage name.