Prince (October 10, 1987) – “Minneapolis Odd Base for Where It’s Happening” Feature – Post‑Bulletin.
A New York Times News Service feature examining Minneapolis as one of America’s fastest‑growing music centres, with Prince and the emerging “Minneapolis Sound” credited as the driving force behind the city’s national and international reputation.
Publication: Post‑Bulletin
Date: Saturday, October 10, 1987
Country: USA
Written by Dirk Johnson for the New York Times News Service, this feature explores how Minneapolis evolved into one of the most important music cities in America during the 1980s.
The article points to the extraordinary impact of Prince Rogers Nelson, whose success with Purple Rain transformed the city's reputation and attracted musicians, producers and record companies to Minnesota.
The story notes that nearly two dozen recording artists had secured national recording contracts in the years following Prince’s breakthrough. Billboard magazine is quoted as describing the city as “America’s Newest Musical Wonderland”, largely due to the success of Prince and his protégés. The article also highlights the influence of producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, whose growing success further strengthened Minneapolis’s standing within the music industry.
Particular attention is given to the development of Paisley Park in Chanhassen. Described as a post‑modern multimedia complex, the facility is presented as both Prince’s creative headquarters and a major recording centre capable of attracting artists from across the United States and beyond. Industry figures quoted in the article suggest that the studio ranks among the finest recording facilities in the world.
The feature also explores Minneapolis’s wider cultural environment, including its independent music venues, supportive arts community and thriving live‑music scene. Local musicians are portrayed as benefiting from an environment where emerging talent can develop without immediately relocating to Los Angeles or New York.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published in 1987, the article captures the height of Prince’s influence on Minneapolis. By this point he had already transformed the city into a recognised music hub through Purple Rain, Paisley Park and a growing network of associated artists, producers and musicians.
The feature is noteworthy because it documents how national newspapers viewed Minneapolis during the late 1980s, presenting the city as an unlikely but highly successful centre for popular music. Prince is positioned as the key catalyst behind this transformation.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: National feature on Minneapolis and its music industry
Era: 1987 – Paisley Park era
Tone: Analytical, celebratory, civic pride
Photography: Newspaper feature layout without a featured artist portrait, focused on editorial commentary regarding Minneapolis and its music scene
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Prince credited with helping transform Minneapolis into a major music centre
Reference to the success of Purple Rain
Discussion of Paisley Park and its recording facilities
Recognition of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Billboard describing Minneapolis as “America’s Newest Musical Wonderland”
Examination of the wider Minneapolis music community
SOURCES Prince Vault, Sleevographia2, Discogs.
All single artwork, photographs, logos, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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