Prince album will not release in Britain

LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Sony BMG has announced that because of a giveaway by The Mail on Sunday, Prince's new album will not release in Britain.

The company decided the free disc offer by the Mail, which has a circulation of about 2 million, would deeply affect its retail potential, Variety.com reported. The newspaper included a copy of Prince's "Planet Earth" in each copy of the paper more than two weeks before its official release.

"Planet Earth" was scheduled for a July 16 release in Britain and a July 24 release from Columbia Records in the United States.

Prince has used separate distribution deals for each of his albums since he left Warner Bros., said Variety, adding there could be legal action taken since Sony BMG said it had nothing to do with the deal.

Prince also will five away a copy of the CD to concertgoers.