The Current to Launch New Stream – Purple Current – on April 6

Apr 3, 2018

Stream offers listeners the best Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, R&B and a “whole ‘lotta Purple”

ST. PAUL, Minn., April 3, 2018 – The Current today announced that it is launching a new stream that explores Prince’s musical universe: his music, his inspirations, his peers and the incredible artists that follow in his footsteps. The 24-hour dedicated stream, “Purple Current,” is supported by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Purple Current will launch at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, April 6.

“Our listeners have been asking for something like this for some time,” said Jim McGuinn, program director, The Current. “Musically, there’s no more exciting family tree to curate around than Prince’s. He pulled inspiration from every corner of the musical world, and his output touched so many of the most vital artists working today. This stream will showcase what we’re calling the roots and fruits of the Purple Family Tree.”

Purple Current will feature funk, soul and beyond – including hits alongside deep dives into Minnesota Public Radio’s unparalleled library to shine a light on unsung musical heroes. The stream can be accessed – along with The Current’s other streams, Local Current (all-Minnesota music); Radio Heartland (acoustic, Americana and roots music) and Rock the Cradle (music for kids and their grownups) –  on purplecurrent.org and on both the MPR and The Current apps.

“This stream isn’t just about a steady diet of Prince cuts,” adds McGuinn. “A half hour into listening to Purple Current you’re likely to have heard artists as varied as James Brown, Santana, Nooky Jones and Public Enemy. And we are committed to tracking and celebrating the tremendous output of great music in this vein that is released daily.”

For many Minnesotans and millions of fans across the globe, at the time of Prince’s death in 2016, The Current was the place to collectively mourn this loss. As the Daily Beast reported, “The Current’s website became a de facto vigil for Prince fans anywhere on the web.” And the LA Times said, “The Current suddenly emerged as the center of American music.”

“Just as Prince’s music evolved, so will Purple Current” said McGuinn. “We’re hoping to make this a warm and inviting purple universe in which to connect, listen and celebrate for music fans the world over.”

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About The Current
The Current® from Minnesota Public Radio® brings listeners the best authentic new music alongside the music that inspired it, from local to legendary, indie to influential, new to nostalgic. A non-commercial, listener-supported radio station, The Current® has helped launch and support more than 600 Minnesota artists during its eleven-year history. The Current Sessions®, live performances of emerging and well-established artists recorded in MPR’s Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio, have garnered national attention from music lovers, industry leaders and media outlets like Pitchfork Media, Stereogum and Prefix Magazine. One of the country’s leading authorities in presenting contemporary music to audiences, The Current® has received numerous accolades, including FMQB Triple A Conference Non-Comm Station of the Year, Program Director of the Year (Jim McGuinn), and Music Director of the Year (David Safar). City Pages readers have named the Current® “Best Radio Station” in its annual “Best of the Twin Cities” awards every year since the station’s existence. The station's online music coverage has been honored with four Page One Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. The Current® can be heard at 89.3 in the Twin Cities, 88.7 in Rochester, 90.9 in Duluth and across Minnesota—check thecurrent.org for a complete list of stations.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.