♪ just beat it >> he was the artist that mtv really needed. they didn't know they needed him, but boy, when we started to see those michael jackson videos, it was just unbelievable. >> then there was the domino effect. suddenly you see prince videos from warner brothers do the same thing. ♪ tonight ♪ we're gonna party like it's 1999 ♪ >> prince wasn't just materializing out of nowhere. where was he before this video was done? >> prince was a huge star on black radio stations. i mean, people -- he had a really underground cult following, and he was a very sexy, hot performer. ♪ the sweat of your body covers me ♪ ♪ can you, my darling can you picture this ♪ >> prince loved the idea that he was taking his punk funk music and turning it on to a white audience, and that wouldn't have happened if not for mtv. ♪ this is what it sounds like when doves cry ♪