Prince Songs Experience Streaming Surge Following "Stranger Things" Finale

Two classic songs by the late pop legend Prince have seen a remarkable rise in streaming activity on Spotify following their prominent feature in the concluding episode of the popular series "Stranger Things." "When Doves Cry" and "Purple Rain," both standout tracks from Prince's 1984 landmark album "Purple Rain," were strategically placed during pivotal scenes in the show’s finale.

"When Doves Cry" underscores the group’s daring escape from the Abyss and the Upside Down, while "Purple Rain" accompanies the dramatic collapse of the Upside Down, symbolically linked to the character Eleven's fate.

According to recent data, "Purple Rain" experienced a 243% surge in global Spotify streams, while "When Doves Cry" followed closely with a 200% increase. The boost was especially pronounced among Gen Z listeners, with "Purple Rain" streams soaring by 577% and "When Doves Cry" climbing 128%.

Overall, streaming of Prince’s catalog surged by 190%, aided by an 88% growth in listenership from younger audiences. This phenomenon mirrors the resurgence of Kate Bush’s "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)," which similarly gained massive popularity after its placement in an earlier "Stranger Things" season.

The show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, noted the challenges in securing rights for these iconic songs. Prince’s estate, known for protecting the use of tracks from the "Purple Rain" album, was initially a significant hurdle. Ross Duffer commented on the selection process: "Once we came up with the idea that the record was going to be the trigger for the bomb, we knew we needed an epic needle drop, and so many ideas were thrown around. Nothing was more epic than Prince, which lined up perfectly for us."

They also highlighted the substantial effort and rarity of the license being granted. Ross added, "It just has not been used before, and it summed up the emotion of the moment so well."

Matt Duffer further credited Kate Bush’s cooperation in earlier negotiations as instrumental to obtaining clearance for Prince’s music, remarking, "We were told it was a real long shot, so we just crossed our fingers. Thank God they agreed."

In collaboration, Spotify and Netflix launched an official "Stranger Things" playlist featuring all the show’s notable music, including hits by Prince, Kate Bush, ABBA, Metallica, The Beach Boys, and David Bowie.

This musical spotlight not only celebrates the acclaimed series but also revives classic tracks for new generations of listeners worldwide.