Name it the Kate Bush Bump: After “Purple Rain” and “When Doves Cry” have been utilized by the Duffer Brothers within the sequence finale of Stranger Issues, Spotify streaming stats for the 2 iconic Prince tracks have exploded in 2026.
Based on knowledge launched by Spotify, “Purple Rain” noticed a 243% improve in international streams between December thirty first (when the Stranger Issues finale debuted) and January 1st, 2026. Moreover, the tune noticed a 577% improve in streaming by Gen Z customers, who hopefully weren’t listening to it for the primary time. “When Doves Cry” skilled smaller however related outcomes: a 200% improve in international streams, with a 128% improve for Gen Z particularly. The characteristic additionally introduced an elevated curiosity in Prince’s catalog general, with a 190% improve in international streaming.
With out moving into spoilers for the sequence finale, “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain” performed a key function in “The Rightside Up,” underscoring a key motion scene in addition to an emotional farewell. “We knew we wanted an epic needle drop, and so many concepts have been thrown round,” Ross Duffer instructed Netflix’s Tudum. “I believe there’s nothing actually extra epic than Prince.”
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Getting “Purple Rain” specifically was not a certain factor, because the Prince property very hardly ever permits for that tune to be licensed. However over its five-season run, Stranger Issues developed a observe file for making ’80s hits into present-day chart-toppers, exemplified by the large success of “Operating Up that Hill” after being featured in Season 4. As Matt Duffer put it, “Due to Kate Bush, we have been in a position to purchase the rights [to ‘Purple Rain’].”
Prince wasn’t the one high-profile artist featured within the sequence finale — try our soundtrack information to Stranger Issues Season 5 for a full breakdown. The whole sequence is now streaming on Netflix.
