Prince is officially having a Purple Rain renaissance and “Stranger Things” is at the helm of it.
According to Variety, the late icon’s music has seen a massive surge in streaming following the series finale of Netflix’s Stranger Things, which debuted on New Year’s Eve.
His legendary 1984 anthem “Purple Rain” saw a jaw-dropping 243% increase in global Spotify streams. Gen Z listeners alone pushed the song to a massive 577% spike.
Another iconic song, “When Doves Cry,” soared with a 200% global increase and a 128% rise among Gen Z listeners. Overall, Prince’s entire catalog surged 190% worldwide, proving that his music still reigns supreme across generations, nearly a decade after his passing.
Both tracks were featured during pivotal moments of the “Stranger Things” emotional finale.
Why the moment is even more legendary?
Prince’s estate rarely allows these songs to be licensed outside of the 1984 Purple Rain film. Stranger Things co-creator Matt Duffer admitted to Netflix’s publication, Tudum, that the icon’s estate emphasized that securing the tracks was “a real long shot.” His brother and co-creator Ross Duffer added that they had never debated a song choice more intensely.
“We knew we needed an epic needle drop, and so many ideas were thrown around. I think there’s nothing really more epic than Prince,” Ross said.
Last February, Netflix cancelled the release of a documentary about Prince by filmmaker Ezra Edelman.