Besides just creating music Prince has had historical impact in several ways:

I believe, Prince originated and/or popularized the current way of texting and communication. He originated the use of "2," "U," etc. etc.

Prince seems to have crafted a new way of thinking and/or popularized the idea of musical creator as owner. He was doing this before any other major pop star.

His use of internet.

What else?
[Edited 7/11/09 14:41pm]

I think he will be most remembered for his fight with WB and the owning of his master recordings. He has influenced so many by preaching to own your masters that a lot of new artists (and established ones also) followed suit.

I, too, think that he will also be remembered for being a pioneer in marketing music on the web. Especially with CB and the NPGMC. He pretty-much came up with a "podcast" in the form of the ahdio shows.
[Edited 7/11/09 11:17am]

Well, I don't know if P started the 'b4 uc me, eye 8 1 2" type of alpha-numeric writing, but he sorta popularized it....

Interesting thread idea. I hope it catches some momentum.

free0001
[Edited 7/11/09 11:46am]

sro100 said:

I think that was Larry Graham. I have a GCS record from the 70s where Larry used exactly the same kind of abbreviations. I think the album´s title is Do U Want 2 Party or something like that. It´s an original vinyl pressing from the early 70s.

There´s also that song Ain´t Nuttin´like a WB Party on it.

I think he holds a patent for the Gold Axxe or the Purple Axxe. Look it up, he patented it.
His idea of using flangers with a LM-1 was also pretty innovative back in the day.And his backwards drum tracks etc.

sro100 said:

agree with the use of the internet, but not so much on the original use of "2", "u", etc. any sources on this?

daPrettyman said:

Once he's dead, I fear that Prince's name change and battle with the WB will forever overshadow his musical legacy. There will always be the TAFKAP jokes, the "squiggle" comments, etc. Those are the same people who will say "Oh my god I LOVED that 'When Doves Cry' song." I still have people think he hasn't released anything since Diamonds and Pearls or something.

Never thought about the podcast thing, but it really was just that. I'm not sure when Podcasts became a word or a thing, but I'm thinking 2003 or so. The iPod came out around that time (2002).

As far as ordering stuff online, he was def one of the first, but Alanis Morrisette did the same thing (as freebies), and a couple of other artists that harnessed the internet early on.

The bigger part of the WB legacy thing will be what he does with those masters when the ownership reverts back to him starting in a few years. Will he sit on them? Edit them? Remaster and rerelease them? Time will tell, but time will also tell how many give a shit at that point. Prince has been careless with his career and pending legacy.

ernestsewell said:

According to Wikipedia, Podcasting took off in 2004, but it doesn't say "began". I find that interesting.

KoolEaze said:

Well in that case Prince certainly popularized it.

daPrettyman said:

That sounds right. I do remember podcasts being around in 2003. I just never knew what it was though. Never quite got into it, but I eventually figured it out when they "took off". Prince certainly was doing it early on.

sro100 said:

Prince definitely didn't originate this. People were writing things like "U R 2 cool 2 B 4gotten" in yearbooks long before Prince ever came on the scene. Which is not to say that's where it started; it's just an example of how those types of word shortcuts have been around a long time.

Prince pushed the "Z's" into the world! Prince would know when the first time he began to write...Horn"z" and thingz. I believe it was prior to 2001 with, "The Rainbow Children," However I'm just too tired to trace my albumz at this time. Maybe someone else can look.

I have to say something else about the Z's...Coors had an add years ago..."Zomething different." Coors and I talked by mail at that time. "Zima," beer later stopped their adds...which was not necessary, and whether or not they resumed is not zomething I know.

I've been paying attention...Just in case anybody wants to know...

ASSLESS PANTS
Nuff said!

[Edited 7/11/09 19:43pm]

The first clear cassette tape that I got was a Prince tape.

And those button down the sides pants are still HOT HOT HOT

Ass-less pants.

Creating an army of women whom he renamed and setting them loose upon the world!
Apollonia, Vanity, Carmen ATTACK!!!

[Edited 7/12/09 18:56pm]

Tame said:

Actually goes back to at least 96' in Print on "Emancipation."

Revolution said:

I THINK the first clear one I got was ATWIAD, but I'm not sure. Could be though. Not sure if that was an innovation. That's more of a record company thing, not an artist thing.