Prince Is on the Radio! On-air Influences and Online Legacies

Coley, Sam (2021) Prince Is on the Radio! On-air Influences and Online Legacies. AMP: American Music Perspectives, 2 (1). pp. 15-35. ISSN 2688-3635

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Abstract

This article explores Prince’s associations with traditional radio as well his presence on digital audio platforms. I suggest he had affinity for the medium and an innate understanding of how radio works. As Matt Thorne (2012, 17) comments, much has been made of Prince’s early radio listening, especially the combination of “white and Black music that may have shaped his sound.” I argue that the impact of eclectic radio programming at an early age left an indelible imprint on Prince’s subsequent artistic output. The self-curated playlists of local Minneapolis DJs exposed him to disparate artists and helped form his unique amalgam of influences. This article also considers the censorship of Prince on the radio and his successes and failures in gaining airplay. I apply Henry Jenkins theories on participatory fan culture to the creation of Prince-related podcasts—fan endeavours that offer insight into his remarkable life and career.

Item Type: Article
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.5325/ampamermusipers.2.1.0015
Dates:
DateEvent
1 February 2021Accepted
1 February 2021Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords: Prince, Minneapolis radio, KUXL, KQRS, podcasting
Subjects: CAH24 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01-05 - media studies
Divisions: Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > College of English and Media
Depositing User: Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited: 18 Mar 2024 13:18
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2024 13:18
URI: https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15348

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