Prince’s ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘Purple Rain’ Spotify Streams More Than Double in ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale Surge

The finale of Netflix's "Stranger Things" has sparked a remarkable streaming revival for Prince, with exclusive data from Variety revealing a 190% global surge in plays of his catalog on Spotify since the episode's release. This resurgence is being driven significantly by a new generation, as streams from Gen Z listeners alone jumped by 88%.

The dramatic increases are directly linked to two landmark songs from Prince's 1984 masterpiece, *Purple Rain*. The iconic title track, featured during a climactic sacrificial scene, led the charge with a 243% rise in global streams and an astonishing 577% spike among Gen Z audiences. Its companion piece, "When Doves Cry," also saw massive gains, with global streams up 200% and a 128% increase from younger listeners. The Prince estate, which has tightly controlled licensing since the artist's 2016 death to protect his legacy, had not permitted these tracks for use outside the original *Purple Rain* film, making their inclusion a notable achievement for the series.

Securing permission was a formidable challenge, as the estate is notoriously selective. Series co-creator Matt Duffer admitted to Netflix's Tudum that they considered it "a real long shot." His brother Ross emphasized the rarity of the clearance, stating, "We had never debated a song choice more intensely... His estate simply does not license that song for projects beyond the 'Purple Rain' movie." This careful curation is a deliberate strategy to maintain the cultural prestige and exclusivity of Prince's most seminal works, a policy that has often kept his music out of commercials and other television shows.

The songs soundtrack a pivotal sequence where the core group braces for a final confrontation. The scene utilizes Side Two of the *Purple Rain* album, building from "When Doves Cry" to the epic "Purple Rain" as the character Eleven faces a devastating choice. This expert synchronization highlights how a perfectly placed song can deepen narrative impact while bridging generational divides. As music industry analyst Clara Mendez observes, "When a sync is this culturally resonant, it acts as a powerful discovery engine. It doesn't just create a viral moment—it can permanently alter the streaming trajectory of classic music, introducing it to audiences who might only know the artist by name." The event underscores television's evolving role as a tastemaker, capable of reigniting interest in legendary catalogues.