CSPC: Prince Popularity Analysis

https://flic.kr/p/FyT1hR

Digital Singles Sales – Part 2

As a reminder, the weighting is done with a 10 to 1,5 ratio between one album and one digital single.

Around the World in A Day (1985) – 288,000 equivalent albums

Paisley Park – 60,000
Raspberry Beret – 1,490,000
Pop Life – 300,000
Remaining tracks – 70,000

Parade (1986) – 421,000 equivalent albums

Girls & Boys – 90,000
Kiss – 2,480,000
Sometimes It Snows In April – 150,000
Remaining tracks – 85,000

Sign ‘O’ The Times (1987) – 357,000 equivalent albums

Sign ‘o’ the Times – 360,000
U Got the Look – 650,000
If I Was Your Girlfriend – 260,000
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man – 150,000
Housequake – 70,000
Starfish and Coffee – 80,000
Adore – 530,000
Remaining tracks – 280,000

Lovesexy (1988) – 38,000 equivalent albums

Alphabet St. – 210,000
Remaining tracks – 40,000

Batman (1989) – 57,000 equivalent albums

Partyman – 90,000
Scandalous – 120,000
Batdance – 140,000
Remaining tracks – 30,000

Graffiti Bridge (1990) – 27,000 equivalent albums

Thieves in the Temple – 120,000
Remaining tracks – 60,000

At close to 1,5 million and 2,5 million, respectively, Raspberry Beret and Kiss sold as much through downloads and ringtones than on physical formats. Sign ‘O’ the Times lacks a true big hit but the critical acclaim of the album is visible through downloads of many of its album cuts.

While back in the day Prince was still getting hits comfortably in late 80s, his 1988-1990 isn’t that much successful right now. Alphabet St. is the only song from the 3 eras of that period that reaches even 200,000 units.