In his review for The Village Voice, critic Robert Christgau said that after the album's opening uptempo songs, 'pleasant shocks lurk near the surface and go against the flow of the quality material, and almost everything packs payback'. Template:Album reviews Musicology received generally positive reviews from music critics. For future album releases, Billboard said that customers 'must be given an option to either add the CD to the ticket purchase or forgo the CD for a reduced ticket-only price.' A purple vinyl edition was released in February 2019. This prompted Billboard magazine and Nielsen SoundScan to change its chart data methodology. Part of the album's chart success was due to concertgoers receiving a copy of Musicology, with the album cost included in the ticket price for the Musicology Tour. The album was certified platinum by The RIAA in June 2004 and was certified double platinum in late January 2005. However it was also a hit on the US R&B charts through airplay. The title track was only released as a single in Australia, where it enjoyed moderate chart success and airplay. It also proved to be well received by music critics. Musicology quickly proved to be Prince's most successful album since Diamonds and Pearls, reaching the Top 5 in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany and making a significant impression on charts around the world. At the time of release, Prince was quoted as saying he wished Musicology to provide musical education to listeners. By January 2005, Musicology was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Prince won Grammy Awards for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for 'Musicology' and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for ' Call My Name'. It was Prince's first album to chart in the US since The Rainbow Children (2001). Receiving generally positive reviews from music critics, Musicology proved to be Prince's most successful record in years, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200 and reaching top 10 in ten other countries. Musicology was the first album in five years (ten as Prince) that Prince released through a major label ( Sony Music) and, being partially recorded in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, was his first to be recorded outside Minneapolis in many years. The physical retail version was released on Ap(Europe) and Ap(US) by NPG Records and distributed by Columbia Records. A digital release followed two days after his tour started on March 29, 2004.

The album was given to concertgoers at his Musicology Tour, from March 27 to September 9, 2004, in North America. Musicology is the twenty-eighth studio album by American recording artist Prince.

Prince musicology live 2004