There are certain elements to a touted career in music that are simply impossible to avoid — a record company, a manager and an agent, to name a few.

But the artist formerly known as Prince, currently known as The Artist, has done just that.

He has rewritten the rules and turned heads in the music industry as his latest triple-disc set, “The Crystal Ball,” has sold nearly 50,000 copies via Internet (www.love4oneanother.com) and telephone (800-NEW-FUNK).

And at $50 a pop, with no one digging into his pile-o-profit, it’s no wonder The Artist parted ways with EMI Records earlier this year.

But this new-found freedom is not just about money (which he gives a hefty portion of to his Love4OneAnother charity); it’s about life.

“My success is no longer defined by others,” The Artist announced in a recent press release. “I pay no agent, no manager, no merchandiser and sometimes no promoter. These are some of the things that make one feel born again.”

The maverick entertainer who brought such classics as “Little Red Corvette,” “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain” to the ’80s is certainly that — born again.

Last year’s three-disc release, “Emancipation,” changed the name of Prince forever, catapulting his classic urban ballads, alternative rock hymns and club-pop charms to another level.

With industry gems “Betcha By Golly Wow” and “Somebody’s Somebody,” both of which soared to no. 1 on the Billboard R & B chart, and fan favorites “Jam Of The Year” and “Sex In The Summer,” the record set (which gave The Artist the highest royalty rate ever) seemed to bring The Artist the best of both worlds.

But “Emancipation” was not considered a victory by The Artist, who is said to ignore conventional measures of success.

“Charts, awards and grades at school are sociopsychotic illusions,” he said.

So to make up for “Emancipation’s” supposed lack of dictatorship, The Artist is supporting the record his own way.

The Artist has announced he will tour well into 1999 but is giving advance notice of only one week prior to each show — an effort to thwart scalpers and merchandise bootleggers.

“Never again will I be a slave to a system I had no part in designing,” The Artist said in a press release. “Everything I do now is on the spur of the moment, which allows me freedom to better follow my own divine design.”

“The Crystal Ball” is a prime example of The Artist’s divine design. The three-disc set is packaged in an actual crystal ball freestanding case. The collection includes new music as well as underground classics such as “Sexual Suicide,” “Days Of Wild” and “The Ride.”

As part of The Artist’s X-periment of Truth, fans who fill out database forms when purchasing the collection receive a free copy of the acoustic disc “The Truth.”

“Being unsigned to a major label is the most rewarding, least constricting way of life I’ve led in 20 years,” The Artist said.

The Artist will be bringing his “Jam Of The Year” tour to Hilton Coliseum Tuesday night at 8 p.m.

Larry Graham, former bassist and vocalist of Sly and Family Stone and leader of the Graham Central Station, will be opening the show, which includes both classics and new songs by The Artist.

Tickets are still available for the show for $30 and $20.49 at all TicketMaster centers, or charge by phone at 233-1888 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Golden Circle voucher ticket pick-up will begin at 6 p.m. the night of the show at the lower west doors of Hilton Coliseum. Patrons must show a photo ID and voucher or confirmation number when redeeming Golden Circle tickets.

All people in the party must be present to pick up Golden Circle tickets, since groups will be escorted directly into the building.

Hilton Coliseum Ticket Office will open at 4 p.m. Tuesday.