Prince logo ("Love Symbol #2")

'1992 saw Prince and The New Power Generation release his 12th album, Love Symbol Album,[69] bearing only an unpronounceable symbol on the cover (later copyrighted as Love Symbol #2). The album, generally referred to as the Love Symbol Album, would peak at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. While the label wanted "7" to be the first single, Prince fought to have "My Name Is Prince" as he "felt that the song's more hip-hoppery would appeal to the same audience" that had purchased the previous album. Prince got his way but "My Name Is Prince" only managed to reach No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 23 on the R&B chart. The follow-up single "Sexy MF" fared worse, charting at No. 66 on the Hot 100 and No. 76 on the R&B chart. The label's preferred lead single choice "7" would be the album's lone top ten hit, reaching No. 7. 'Love Symbol Album' would go on to sell 2.8 million copies worldwide.'

'1993 also marked the year in which Prince changed his stage name to [the symbol], which was explained as a combination of the symbols for male (♂) and female (♀). In order to use the symbol in print media, Warner Bros. had to organize a mass mailing of floppy disks with a custom font. In those days, a commonly used typed approximation of the Symbol was "O(+>". The symbol would soon be dubbed "The Love Symbol" and Prince would be referred to as "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince", "TAFKAP", or simply "The Artist". Later, when he changed his name back to Prince again, he was sometimes called "The Artist Formerly Known as 'The Artist Formerly Known as Prince'".'