After weeks of controversy, Prince's new album Planet Earth has finally been released free with British newspaper the Mail on Sunday. An estimated three million copies of the record were distributed on today in a deal thought to be worth $500,000 to the musician.

The stunt has been criticized by a string of high street retailers in recent weeks, who brand the giveaway "an insult" to stores.

Prince's record label Sony BMG has also suffered, and recently axed plans to release the album in the U.K.

More free copies will be given away next month (Aug07) when the U.S. pop superstar plays London's O2 arena.

Prince's last album only sold 80,000 copies in the U.K. and the Mail on Sunday's editor, Peter Wright, can understand why the singer was tempted by his newspaper offer.

He tells BBC Five Live, "Prince has done this because he makes most of his money these days as a performing artist."

-Pics of the purple one

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)