TheCable

Prince Roger Nelson, prolific music icon who passed away on April 21, has sold more than 2.8 million songs in his death, as the tussle for his money and property begins.

The 57-year-old artiste, who died last Thursday at the age of 57, has arguably become more famous in his death than he was in the last decade of his life.

According to Nielsen Music, quoted by CNN, on the day he died, 239,000 of his albums were bought by grieving fans. During the weekend, another 399,000 albums were sold.

Those weekend sales were up more than 16,000 percent from the previous weekend when about 2,500 albums were sold.

Prince fans have also bought over 2.8 million songs from Prince’s catalogue since his death.

The top songs purchased being Purple Rain When Doves Cry and Little Red Corvette, according to the Nielsen Music data.

The most popular albums bought in the wake of Prince’s death were the greatest hits compilation ‘The Very Best of Prince,’ his multi-platinum album ‘Purple Rain,’ and another compilation album ‘The Hits/The B-Sides’.

The prolific artiste, who could play all the instruments on his albums, had 16 platinum records as a solo artist and as a member of two bands.

Purple Rain, which many fans and critics consider to be his masterwork, has sold over 13 million albums since its release in 1984.

With various estimates putting Prince’s Paisley estate at $300 million, the tussle for who get his wealth has begun.

Prince had no children, no parent, divorced twice, hence no wife, but has a sister, Tyka,who has come out to file legal documents stating that the music legend did not have a will.

She filed the court documents in Minnesota’s Carver County, where Prince’s Paisley Park estate and studio is located.

As Prince’s only full sibling, Tyka is most favoured to get all or most of his  property and life work.