Prince is a cult artist who hit it big w/1 album and movie. he held on to some of the mainstream fans he picked up from that hit for a few yrs, but then his fanbase shrunk back to that cult level. and that's where it's remained since the early 90s (after the little blip on the mainstream radar that was D&P).

it's not a diss to him at all that his music hasn't attracted a mass following. it's not the type that would. i think he's aware (this issue even popped up in Purple Rain the movie). every now and then he's shot for mainstream success w/stuff like 'Beautiful Girl' and the Rave album and the Musicology album. then again w/'Black Sweat'. but most of his output is that stuff that only his cult following would dig.