even they switched up their sound dramatically in the early 90s. b/c they wanted to stay current.

Duran Duran was all but over and in need of a comeback by the late 80s/early 90s.

Bruce Springsteen was not really a Pop factor anymore. he was still around and still respected and all that, but it wasn't 1984/85 for him anymore. the 'Glory Days'. LOL.

Madonna was approaching her commercial peak. her biggest hit in the late 80s/early 90s was basically a House track ('Vogue'), not a 'Like a Virgin' re-tread.

ironically, Sinead O'Connor had a massive hit w/a remade Prince-written song. it sounded little like the original and nothing like Prince's own arrangement heard in his cover version a couple yrs later.

Janet was all over the place w/her Rhythm Nation singles. they were made in Mpls, but w/o sounding like they were cut live at First Avenue in 1983. they were very Hip-Hop and NJS influenced.

i think the story is the same for Prince @ non-Black radio if he'd kept on w/his early 80s sound. he would've been ignored. his sound was no longer the hot, current thing. ppl had moved on.