It is believed that Prince will top both the singles and albums charts here and in the UK as fans buy the artist’s abundant back catalogue.
Within 24 hours of his death, Prince’s music had dominated the top ten album charts despite modest availability on streaming services. The early sales figures show that Prince will more than likely take the top spot in both charts on Friday.
The singer's 1984 smash Purple Rain is likely to be the top-selling single. When Doves Cry looks set to occupy the second position, with Kiss at number four and 1999 in fifth place.
The only other artist putting up a decent fight against Prince is Drake, as One Dance presides over the number three position. However as much of Prince's music isn't available through streaming, it means that his position on the charts will inevitably slip down.
However should Purple Rain go to number one, it would be the singer’s second UK number one, twenty two years after he hit the top spot with The Most Beautiful Girl in the World. Purple Rain climbed to No 8 on its released in 1984, but, as it often the case, posterity will probably be even kinder, at least in the immediate future.
Early estimates for the albums chart reveal that Prince albums make up four out of the top ten in Ireland, The Very Best Of (Prince), Ultimate, Purple Rain and Sign O’ The Times.
At present he has nine albums in total in the Irish top fifty, while in the UK he is said to be commanding half of top ten album charts.
In the meantime, watch Prince's immortal guitar solo at the close of this version of George Harrison's While My Guitar Gently Sleeps, recorded live at the 2004 Hall of Fame inductions.
