This is a great question/thread, but a loaded thread/question. If we understand that music, just like all forms of art, is a reflection of and a reaction to the socio-political landscape of the day, then it will be difficult to recognize the next Prince because that person will be working with a different socio-political landscape or matrix. For example, Hip Hop, of which I am not a great fan, exists as an example of African American genius because poor black kids had music programs taken from their classrooms, which meant no access to instruments. Yet, with necessity being the mother of invention, folk who still wanted to use music as a way to cry, rage, and escape were able to view the turn-table as an instrument. Also, much of Hip Hop, especially the Hip Hop that exists today, was a rebellion against the integrationist attitudes of Prince and Michael and Jackson. And even multi-talented white artists, such as Beck or John Mayer and many others will be working in a socio-political landscape that is based on blues, funk, and gospel, but not as directly influenced by it. Even gospel music is losing its blues root as Hip Hop beats and grooves have invaded the church, which is not surprising since the most famous gospel writer, Thomas Dorsey, was a blues man whose music, such as “Precious Lord,” was initially rejected by the African American church for being too much like café/juke joint music.

Now, I will add, as a blues baby from Clarksdale, Mississippi, (home of the blues) that Prince, in his desire and absolute right to be all that he could be, which meant escaping any cultural and ideological chains that the industry or society could place on him, is as much at fault for the break in the chain or legacy because of his failing to work with young talent as a mentor. But, in his defense, Prince's desire was to be a musician/artist, not an archivist or college teacher. Yet, "Dead on It" and his being perceived as not wanting to have anything to do with young African American talent, especially between 1988 -1996, when he was perceived as no longer belonging to the African American community, is a major reason why more African American musicians turned to Hip Hop because there were no definable “black” faces playing guitar or being on top of the music charts as a musician. So, many black kids that would have become musicians became djs, and I know that it is a small number, but six African American djs of whom I have asked this question all agree to one level or another. And though I laugh at that notion of Prince ever being considered a white act, it was a notion shared by many in the African American community for about ten years. Just recently B. B. King has publicly stated that he wants to play with Prince and make a record with Prince. In my mind, he has a responsibility to the legacy of the music to make that happen, but my desires and expectations are not his desires and expectations, as those of us who have been long-time followers of his work know and accept. So with no, so-called “black musician” at the top of the charts, there isn’t the motivation for black kids, in mass, to start picking up instruments and learning the history of black musicianship.

Accordingly, as odd as it may seem, many of my father's generation had a problem seeing the connection that Prince had to the legacy of James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Sly Stone, Smokey Robinson, Al Green, Parliament, and others because of Prince's sensationalism. One my mentors loses his mind every time I compare Prince to Stevie Wonder because he is unable to see that talent level of Prince because he is blinded by what he calls the "Peter Pan Fantasy" that Prince and Jackson, according to him, try to conjure.

And, finally, the question will become how can it be measured? This very site, Prince.org, proves everyday that one person's New Power Soul is other Person's Lovesexy. Some of us think that Prince hasn't written a great song or album since 2000 and others disagree. (Count me in the group that loves The Rainbow Children and Lotusflow3r/MPLSound) as much as I love Dirty Mind, Purple Rain, and Lovesexy.) So, with the understanding of subjective tastes and such a different socio-political landscape, it may be difficult, if not impossible, to recognize the next "Prince-type" because that next or new artist will be addressing the needs and tastes of his generation and not ours, and very few of us, me especially, will be intellectually and emotionally objective enough to recognize it.