There is no doubt that MJ's popularity reaches far more peeople than Prince. The recent tragedy undersopcres that but Ive already known that for a while. Prince would not get one fourth of the coverage MJ is getting and will get. Dosnt mean anything in the grand scheme of things though.

Prince sold over 100 million records as of 2006? So, although she wasn't being literal in her "100 times more popular", such a statement is still rather absurd.

I personally am largely unaffected by MJ's death, and I find it hard to relate to people who are actually emotionally distraught over it. Not because he's MJ and I have a prejudice towards him, but because these are stars and entertainers well removed from our own lives. It's simply odd to me. If Prince were to pass away I'd feel only marginally more affected because I am actually a fan.

lol:

Even in death someone finds away to compare the two....amazing.
No offense OP but come on!!!!

Imago said:

Many of the distraught or even slightly affected people grew up with MJ and the brothers as part of their leisure entertainment. It wasn't like today with so much available technology that you can see and hear and interact with so many artists. There were only few media outlets which means that the artsist of yesteryear meant so much more to see. And MJ was during the time of great growth and progress in musical scope. Many things he did were of 'event' status. So growing up with that is akin to feeling a distant connection if you will. Plus Prince was a cultures own Elvis. And his passing is very utimely and way too soon.

I would say from the music world only Madonna's death would come close to receiving the kind of coverage that MJ's has.

No doubt MJ was more popular...but, let's break down why that was so...

MJ played the numbers game...he wanted the top selling everything, and his record co paid for the top producers, paid top dollar for the best videos and in return wanted MJ to be bubblegum...but, his personal life wouldn't go for it.
Maybe the question should be, who was more respected, especially for the last 15 years? Then the answer is clearly Prince, who is still getting props from every and all angles.

MJ sold out for the numbers game...Prince has always done things his way.

I don't think you can compare Prince and MJ. Prince CLEARLY was not pressed on fame as much as MJ. MJ made SURE he made hits back to back. Where Prince is more a risk taker. I mean really 'If I Was Your Girlfriend' as a single? It is the dopest song but not a hit song by any means in reality. So I don't think Prince would get half of the coverage MJ is getting. Prince is my favorite by far. Like the other posters have said apples and oranges

i think the reason MJ's passing is being made so much of is because the media has an unhealthy control over our common reality and perception. the cart is driving the horse, ladies and gents.

starting with princess di the tabloid scum began creating their own dramas and marketing them to us. check out TMZ. it's like they're on safari, hunting celebs down and spotlighting their every move.

michael was easy. he made a spectacle of himself in many ways. buying the elephant man's skeleton, bubbles, the oxygen tank, etc. for whatever reasons he had his quirks, said quirks were easily magnified by the press.

prince, on the other hand, does a good job of keeping the tabloids folks out of his biz. i don't think it is true that prince is not as popular an artist as michael jackson, i think it's more that he has never allowed the press to turn him into a huge, larger than life, so-shiny-we-see-ourselves-in-him kind of figure like michael.

i'm not an expert, just my 2c

Here is the all inclusive difference - and the one that matters most. Micheal Jackson was an entertainer. Prince is an artist. THey approached their careers with these definitions as the basis. Prince is the consumate artist and musician. He creates everything himself. What made Prince great came from Prince. Jackson relied on his visual presense (ground breaking music videos, TV appearances like Motown 25, his tours) more than he did on substance of music. Lets face it - Prince's material is superior overall and he writes, performs, and produces all of it.

But in this world that doesnt get you respected anymore. Sensationlism does. Grabbing your crotch and screaming on camera will get you famous faster than a kick ass guitar solo for the ages. Standing on top of a car and entertaining fans inte street outside a courthouse beats being brave and smart enough to take on the record industry and win when you ask the average low brow American music fan.

Prince sold over 100 million records as of 2006? So, although she wasn't being literal in her "100 times more popular", such a statement is still rather absurd.

I personally am largely unaffected by MJ's death, and I find it hard to relate to people who are actually emotionally distraught over it. Not because he's MJ and I have a prejudice towards him, but because these are stars and entertainers well removed from our own lives. It's simply odd to me. If Prince were to pass away I'd feel only marginally more affected because I am actually a fan.

That being said, I'm going to try to look at their popularity as a regular joe and not a Prince fan.

Valid points!Good Post!

MJ is undoubtedly more popular the Prince worldwide, and in the US he's more popular though the gap in popularity narrows marginally. Michael's death yesterday ensures that this will be the year of Michael Jackson, and if his record sales have not shot through the roof yet, they will very shortly. His record sales are going to dwarf lotusflow3r this year.

With MJ, how could you not get a hit? I mean, millions poured into his P&R campaigns, all his songs are safe and catchy, his videos are flashy, and his ridiculous self-named title "King of Pop" all work perfectly to generate buzz. The fact that he could at one time dance his ass off, and actually sought to entertain the audience only seals the deal.
MJ makes sure in every way possible that his album releases are 'events'.

Madonna had a lull in her career prior to the release of "Ray of Light", and as she was gearing up for it's release, she launched a media blitz which helped ensure it was her biggest selling album in years.

To me, even if Prince did that sort of thing, he'd never reach the levels on MJ stardom in the short term. His muisc, even bleed of its original daringness, is still more challenging than anything MJ has ever done. It demands more from its audience. Michael can put out boring ass songs like "Black or White" or the dreadful "I am here for you" and they become hits cause they're designed to be. Prince could release "Colonized Mind" which is deservingly a hit, but it wouldn't be.


Prince is amazing. He's done everything possible to sabotage his career, and at times behaved as if he didn't want to sell any albums at all. And despite all of this, he's one of the biggest selling musicians in history. Unlike MJ and other peers, Prince's success relies soley on his song writing and musical skills.

So to me it isn't about how many records he's sold, or taking on some ridiculous "King of Pop" title, but about how his music is going to be judged.

I mean, MC Hammer may have outsold Tribe Called Quest, and had his own cartoon and action figure at one time, but....