>> 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 ♪ >> when i was younger, i always said that one day i was going to