From the fan side I think it's about the same.

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The media covage has increased IMO.

I think after 4/21, folks who sorta ignored him in the past or thought they didn't like his music simply because they didn't like his personal grooming & fashion sense or his spiritual path are suddenly curious about his art after seeing the huge outpouring of love from P fans and celebrities globally.

They always knew there was something about him, but I think now non P fans are starting to figure out what that something was all about and many are realizing they misjudged him.

Kim Berry has said in interveiws that P "moved in silence", now those who knew, loved and respected him are breaking that silence a bit and his humanity, deeper art and philanthropy are on display more than ever.

I'm glad.

LBrent, great words.

One thing that sort of blew me away - finding out that Prince was the #1 best selling "album artist" in 2016, whaever exactly that means.

That tells me that his music and life are seeing a true resurgence/critical reassessment...and deservably so.

I could tell from walking around that there was a lot of bandwagon jumping in the immediate aftermath - The Very Best of Prince blasting out of cars and storefronts, that sort of thing. I still see tonnes of stories online, more than Bowie, but that probably has a lot to do with what side of the pond I'm on and the fact that I follow a Prince fan site.

Don't underestimate how much young people - hipsters, for lack of a better word - are buying vinyl. Prince was tres gauche when I came of age in the aftermath of grunge and his symbol stunt. I still talk to young people who don't know him at all but I bet his stature with the youth will increase with the vinyl rereleases. A unique challenge with getting into Prince is knowing where to start. I've been a fan for decades, I have plenty of his albums, and my collection is weak.

I admit I am very surprised with some of the tributes. I mean, I know he was a big star, but didnt know I would see so much stuff even 1 year after. And seeing that his music still creates a buzz (Deliverance, Spotify, etc) in music sites. I only hope the legacy goes on and on.

Exponentially.

I remember back in the day(s) folks here and elsewere would make morbid posts about his death and how media wouldnt really care since he was supposedly "washed up"

I countered them with stating theyre crazy for thinking he would get a one or two day only coverage. They felt he wouldnt come close to the coverage that MJ got/gets.

This is morbid to think about but to think how much he was revered and all the stops that have been pulled regarding our beloved Prince, even when we (ah shit Lil Sweet just came on..those damn dr pepper commericals are back!) even felt he was out of the limelight at times, its good to know the world was only in the shadows but were actually just as hardcore as the rest of us.

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[Edited 5/10/17 19:37pm]

GustavoRibas said:

Sadly the 'legend' could have increased in so many ways while he was alive.

But I think fans and general people who respect Prince as an entertainer, knew he was a legend, and the passing made it that much more obvious. For me and a lot of other hardcores it is the things that could have increased his light, that really hit hard, now that he is gone.

I think he knew he had an impact on his fams around the world, but I don't know if he would have realized that nearly every important landmark - from Sydney to New York to London to Paris and beyond - would be lit in purple to mark his passing. The volume of tributes after April 21 amazed me. Today, once the music starts really rolling out, I think there will be more interest. No one I know personally even cares - they didn't before he left, and they don't now. But the world ... that's a different story.

rdhull said:

Exponentially.

I remmember back in the day(s) folks here and elsewere would make morbid posts about his death and how media wouldnt really care since he was supposedly "washed up"

I countered them with stating theyre crazy for thinking he would get a one or two day only cverage. They felt he wouldnt come close to the coverage that MJ got/gets.

This is morbi to think about but to think how much he was revered and all the stops that have been pulled regardig our beloved Prince, even when we (ah shit Lil Sweet just came on..those dman dr pepper commericals are back!) even felt he was out of the limelight at times, its good to know the world was only in the shadows but were actually just as hardcore as the rest of us.

He was not in the limelight but he never stopped working and he grew his fanbase. I am not shocked one bit about his popularity. He has enough unrealeashed music to stay musically relevant for at least another decade which oddly if he had lived would have put him close to 70 and I hope at retirement. Makes me sad he is not around to see but I kind of think he knew it would happen I think that is the reason he stockpiled so much music instead of shopping to other artist.

Definitely. And it is a beautiful thing to see. I think many of Prince's fan were surpised on the reaction to his passing and I even think the people who were closed to him was blown away as well. People always under understimate him. When people tried to dowplay his impact on people I pull up the NASA tribute to him and how they light up monuments /landmarks all round over the world purple in honor of him.

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[Edited 5/10/17 6:29am]

Much more than I ever imagined, and rightly so. Unfortunately, the suddenness of his death increased the legend. This is one of the best and absolute worst times to be a prince fan.

This much.

What? You can't see that? Guess it's not that much.

I think it takes a long time to get 'legend' status.

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There needs to be indepth critical analysis of his work, but that will take time.

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If we see consistant and timely releases representing the depth and breadth of his work, then without doubt that status will be cemented and elevated.

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LBrent said:

I think after 4/21, folks who sorta ignored him in the past or thought they didn't like his music simply because they didn't like his personal grooming & fashion sense or his spiritual path are suddenly curious about his art after seeing the huge outpouring of love from P fans and celebrities globally.

They always knew there was something about him, but I think now non P fans are starting to figure out what that something was all about and many are realizing they misjudged him.

Kim Berry has said in interveiws that P "moved in silence", now those who knew, loved and respected him are breaking that silence a bit and his humanity, deeper art and philanthropy are on display more than ever.

I'm glad.

Beautifully stated.

I think that his sudden death surrounded by unexplained facts plus all celebrities and media talking about how genius he was aroused curiosity among non fans. Around me people didn´t seem to care much (sadly no purple friends) but I´m happy that I read many interesting articles about his music, that more people are getting to know his music and the legacy seems to be growing.

If the streaming information was true right when Prince's music was put back on Spotify there was a very large interest in hearing his work overall so I think that even though he still is vastly underrated by a lot of folks, he at least has more people checking out his music which is a good thing

soladeo1 said:

More than you would have thought? Less than? About the same? I think it's surprassed my expectations, frankly.

So much this.

It's increased ten fold. Everyone now knows Prince overdosed a day before rehab, in a week of incredible highs (his touching final performance and stops around Chanhassen pre-4/21) and incredible lows (a mysterious plane landing). So the fact he suddenly and randomly died at the young age for 57 (57 years is a packed lifetime but that's actually pretty low for celebrities) in the place of the elevator like he did made international headlines. Even to people who never liked him, the general sentiment seems to be... 'wow, what a waste. Prince could've easily been here today move around 1 or 2 of his final decisions.' And what makes it even more of a thrilling topic to the masses is that Prince lived a pretty well-known anti-drug/relatively conservative lifestyle. Anytime something so important is spilled after death, it will stay. Everybody thought Prince would live to be a cute old little 80 year man with a white-streaked afro so when he died a young scandalous drug death like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston before him, it's introduced a new aspect of himself to the masses. Call that good or bad... but I think Prince's legend will only continue to increase. Aside from scandalous personal info, the press was and has remained generally respectful of Prince after his death and it seems every article I run into has to list his achievements just so people know it's motherfucking PRINCE. And now he has the sympathy factor running for him -- the death of his son and his own difficult childhood has been repeasted agin and again. Ofc, a well-known artist that overdoses fatally will always be the victim in the eyes of the public. And the mysterious circumstances (whether foul play was involved or not) of his death (and I can't forget, his amazing packed 57 years of life), as well as a worldwide reaction that many people will have a memory of, Prince's legacy will only be getting stronger as his death investigation ends and estate comes under control.

Telecaster5 said:

I think that his sudden death surrounded by unexplained facts plus all celebrities and media talking about how genius he was aroused curiosity among non fans. Around me people didn´t seem to care much (sadly no purple friends) but I´m happy that I read many interesting articles about his music, that more people are getting to know his music and the legacy seems to be growing.

My family was like 'wow...ok...moving on' The grieving process wasn't made easier. I don't understand it. Everyone should be a Prince fan on some level since there's rocker Prince, R&B Prince, crooning falsetto Prince, jazz Prince lol

A lot of my friends began referencing Prince though, bringing up how he had a different way with women, kickass basketball player (that Charlie Murphy skit is VERY famous), and talented multi-instramentalist. somebody even told me Prince was an underrated dancer who was a master of the splits -- not somebody who Id expect to watch P videos. So I guess that mad eup for it