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Prince Covers 'The Middle,' Boosts Sales 1,500%!

3/9/2026

35 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World expressed amazement that Prince covered 'The Middle' and that it appeared in a Taylor Swift Apple commercial.
He recalled performing the song with Swift during her 2011 tour, highlighting their ongoing connection.
Adkins noted the song's rapid creation, which initially made the band skeptical of its quality.
The song's popularity surged after Swift's commercial, driving a 1,500% rise in global sales.

History

Historical Context

Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" tour in 2011 marked a significant moment in music marketing, showcasing her collaboration with Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World. Following the tour, an Apple commercial featuring "The Middle" resulted in a remarkable 1,500% increase in global sales for the song, illustrating the transformative impact of digital marketing strategies on music promotion and artist visibility in the evolving music industry landscape.

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Story summary

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World expressed amazement that Prince covered 'The Middle' and that it appeared in a Taylor Swift Apple commercial.
He recalled performing the song with Swift during her 2011 tour, highlighting their ongoing connection.
Adkins noted the song's rapid creation, which initially made the band skeptical of its quality.
The song's popularity surged after Swift's commercial, driving a 1,500% rise in global sales.

1 / 2