Overview
- Netflix’s series ender features Prince’s “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain” as centerpiece needle drops, an unusually rare clearance for the songs.
- Spotify reports show “Purple Rain” up 243% globally and 577% among Gen Z listeners, with “When Doves Cry” up 200% globally and 128% among Gen Z.
- Overall streams of Prince’s catalog climbed about 190% globally after the episode, with Gen Z listening up 88%, according to Variety’s analysis of Spotify data.
- The Duffer Brothers called the rights a long shot and noted the estate seldom licenses Purple Rain tracks beyond the 1984 film.
- Music supervisor Nora Felder described a grueling approval process that concluded just days before filming, as Season 5 playlists rolled out on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music featuring other 1970s/80s classics.