Prince Dead At 57: Songs Surge On iTunes Following Death; How Prince Ruled Music

Sales of Prince's songs and albums surged on iTunes following news of his death Thursday. The 57-year-old legendary singer, who was Prince Rogers Nelson in real life, succumb to still unknown causes at his home. His music is living on in the hearts of his fans.

Time reports that immediately after his death was confirmed, his compilation album, "The Very Best Of Prince," spiked on iTunes. His most popular songs, "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," also climbed the charts. His controversial album, "1999," which Prince had asked to be taken down from other streaming, became heavily downloaded as well.

Prince Dead At 57: How He Protected His Songs Online

A few months before his death, Prince pushed to have his music removed online and shunned the way companies, and not music artists, were profiting from it. The streaming sites were cooperative, but have not stopped convincing him to put his music back on the internet.

Prince obliged, but did things his own way. He carefully chose where his music would be streamed and controlled what would be out on the internet. The Daily Beast reports that this kind of commitment is perhaps one of his greatest legacies in music.

"Spotify is co-owned by record labels, who hold 20 percent of the company's stocks."
- The Daily Beast https://t.co/qQtZ02OOZr

— Prince (@prince) June 25, 2015

Prince also criticized digital music in general. "You're getting sound in bits," Prince said, per The Guardian. "It affects a different place in your brain. When you play it back, you can't feel anything."

Prince Dead At 57: His Greatness, His Influence

Despite his hesitation on making technology work with his music, the rock star still commanded influence. Smithsonian Magazine cited that Prince's uniqueness was what drew fans from different backgrounds to love his work.

His music was not just his brand, it was the way Prince packaged himself that made him an artistic genius. "He incorporated so many different influences and fused together so many sounds and made something creative and unique virtually every time he recorded," said Kevin Strait, a historian from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

An extraordinary artist, innovator, performer and icon, Prince's singular musical gifts will live on. pic.twitter.com/30J6xjWGTE

— The Fillmore Detroit (@FillmoreDetroit) April 21, 2016

E! Online has compiled his legacy to include his evolving music style, his artistic side and his beliefs and stance about life. "The most important thing is to be true to yourself, but I also like danger," he said in an interview in the 80s, when his career started peaking.