What if 1999's follow up hadn't been the crossover climax that it was? What if it sold condiderably less like Dirty Mind or Controversy? Do you think Prince and the Revolution's direction still would have released an ATWIAD? Do you think Prince would have returned to the "Punk Funk" sound that led to his underground cult following?
I know it's hard to say for certain but try to imagine what the world would have gotten.

For sure, the Berlin wall would still be standing.

A lot in music would eb different, that's for sure. But I don't think much in the real world would have been affected much.

There wouldnt have been Around the World in a day, and Prince would be seen as a cult artist like Frank Black. But he would have made it if he had made Sign of the Times and still would have been a huge R & B star.