What Attracted So Many Artists to Work with Prince in the Eighties?

The Twelve Inch 123 : "Are You My Baby" (Wendy & Lisa)

Welcome, I’m Pe Dupre and this is “The Twelve Inch”, a newsletter that tells the history of dance music between 1975 and 1995, one twelve inch at a time.

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Introduction: The Enigmatic Influence of Prince

If you want to write about dance music in the eighties, you'll inevitably come across Prince. Not only is he one of the era’s most influential artists, but he also produced a vast array of talent during this period. The list of artists he influenced or collaborated with is impressive, comprising both existing and new talent who took their first steps into the music business under his mentorship.

Why were so many artists drawn to Prince? Was it his musical genius, his groundbreaking approach to production, or his immense success in the eighties? But why did it never last? Prince is one of th…