Princes Purple Rain Is Most-Played Song On TouchTunes Jukeboxes

NEW YORK CITY -- Jukebox patrons across the country are adding songs by Prince to their music selections in bars and restaurants. TouchTunes, which administers the world's largest digital jukebox network, reported that the artist's "Purple Rain," the 1984 hit for which he won an Oscar, was the most-played song on its jukeboxes yesterday.

Prince, who is widely considered a prodigy, a provocateur and game-changer in popular music, died on Thursday, April 21, at his Paisley Park compound in the Minneapolis suburb of Chanhassen. He was 57.

A TouchTunes spokesperson said the company is "devastated at the loss of such an influential musician."

Prince has sold more than 100 million records and won seven Grammy Awards, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time, TouchTunes observed. The music icon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year of his eligibility.

As fans paid tribute to Prince on jukeboxes, radio stations across the country halted their regular lineups and played his songs.

TouchTunes jukeboxes are installed and serviced by independent vending operators. Its total North American and European installed base is about 75,000. TouchTunes' mobile app, which allows patrons to purchase songs for play on jukeboxes, has been downloaded more than five million times.