In 1993, Prince did what to protest his contract?

In 1993, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol to protest his recording contract with Warner Bros. The symbol combined traditionally masculine and feminine forms and became widely known as the “Love Symbol.”

Prince was frustrated by Warner Bros.’ control over his music, including the pace at which the company released albums and the size of his unreleased catalog. He also objected to being treated as a commercial property rather than as an artist with control over his work. During the dispute, he appeared publicly with the word “slave” written on his cheek.

The name change created a practical problem for journalists, radio hosts, and record companies, which often referred to him as “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince.” The symbol was difficult to reproduce in early computer systems, so that nickname became the standard description.

Prince returned to using his given stage name in 2000, after his Warner-related contract obligations had ended. The episode remains one of the most famous acts of artistic protest in popular-music history.