It’s been 4 years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library. Since my iTunes stats are still intact, across multiple PCs, iPods, iPads, and iPhones, I figured it was time to take another look at the artists that have entertained me the most based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2021.
We continue today with the next batch of 10 artists, with ties at 50th, 48th, and 43rd.
#40: Harry Caray
iTunes stats: 208 plays
Previous ranking: #39
A scant 61% increase, due in part to my attending no baseball games in 2020 due to the corona virus, for the legendary broadcaster for both the White Sox and the Cubs.
#39: The Offspring
iTunes stats: 210 plays
Previous ranking: #44
The winners of the 1999 Billboard Music Award for Modern Rock Artist of the Year gained 96 new listens from the 9 tunes in my collection, inching them up five spots in the rankings.
#38: Taylor Swift
iTunes stats: 212 plays
Previous ranking: #71
The 10-time Grammy winner, who is halfway towards an EGOT, saw a 248% increase with 151 new plays, thanks in part to a new album added to the collection.
#37: The Rolling Stones
iTunes stats: 213 plays
Previous ranking: #56
The 1989 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added 129 additional listens, which moved them up 19 spots in the rankings.
#36: Steam
iTunes stats: 220 plays
Previous ranking: #29
Another casualty of the White Sox victory playlist getting fewer plays over the last few years, especially this last summer thanks to the corona virus, Steam drops 7 spots in the rankings due to only 56 additional plays.
#35: Florence + The Machine
iTunes stats: 223 plays
Previous ranking: #79
The 6-time Grammy nominees, who added two new albums to my collection over the past 4 years, parlayed that into 165 new listens, pushing them up 39 slots.
#34: Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers
iTunes stats: 229 plays
Previous ranking: #28
The novelty band responsible for the White Sox rally song from 1959 added 56 listens in the past 4 years, causing them to drop 6 spots in the rankings.
#33: Van Halen
iTunes stats: 235 plays
Previous ranking: #43
15 tracks from the multiple incarnations of the band, which lost guitarist and founder Eddie Van Halen to cancer last year, rise 10 spots thanks to a 104% increase in plays.
#32: Dr. Dre
iTunes stats: 242 plays
Previous ranking: #31
The legendary producer and gangsta rap pioneer, who suffered a stroke earlier this year, sees a mere 86 new listens while dropping one spot on the charts.
#31: No Doubt
iTunes stats: 262 plays
Previous ranking: #37
Thanks to 126 new listens, the ska band I saw back in college before they hit it big jumps 6 spots in the rankings.