In 1993, during negotiations regarding the release of The Gold Experience, a legal battle ensued between Warner Bros. and Prince over the artistic and financial control of his musical output. During the lawsuit, Prince appeared in public with the word “slave” written on his cheek. He explained that he had changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol to emancipate himself from his contract with Warner Bros., and that he had done it out of frustration because he felt his own name now belonged to the company.
Oh shit, I had no idea there was a real reason for doing that. I thought it was just artistic
lunacylicense.Yep, it was absolutely how Prince bailed on his contract from Warner Bros.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)#Legal_issues