Music. It is a powerful thing that brings people together, creates memories, and evokes emotions. It is the universal language that speaks to the soul. It forms the soundtrack of our lives.
It has now been five years since we last counted down the Top 200 artists in my iTunes library, featuring the songs I have listened to the most since 2007. It is time to do so again, seeing which performers still resonate and if any newer ones have joined the fray. So, without further ado, here are my most listened to artists, based on number of plays as of January 1, 2026.
We continue today with our next batch of ten artists, covering the genres of pop and rock, with an actor and a stadium organist for good measure. We have a single group making their debut on the list this week.
#170: The Rembrandts
iTunes stats: 67 plays
Previous ranking: #186
Formed in 1989, the band combines the totals from their first single, which hit the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990, with various forms of the Friends theme song to rise up the chart, increasing their plays by nearly 43% over these past five years.
#166: Blur
iTunes stats: 68 plays
Previous ranking: #161
The English foursome, formed in London in 1988 and a key contributor to the Britpop genre in the 1990s, added only fourteen new listens over the past five years.
#166: Republica
iTunes stats: 68 plays
Previous ranking: #164
The technopop punk rock band from the UK added fifteen new plays, an increase of over 28% over the past five years.
#166: Tag Team
iTunes stats: 68 plays
Previous ranking: #154
Thank to their inclusion on my Cubs victory playlist, the one hit wonders from Denver, Colorado, who I have seen perform at half time of a Bulls game and before a White Sox game, increased their listens by thirteen.
#166: Dean Martin
iTunes stats: 68 plays
Previous ranking: #176
The Rat Pack member, who passed away in 1995, picked up 18 new plays over the past five years.
#165: Belinda Carlisle
iTunes stats: 69 plays
Previous ranking: #154
The former lead singer of the Go-Go’s, who went solo in 1985, picks up fourteen new listens to the three tracks I have in my collection.
#161: Howard Stern
iTunes stats: 70 plays
Previous ranking: #171
Audio clips from the Private Parts soundtrack and his radio show from September 11, 2001, help the legendary shock jock pick up 19 additional listens.
#161: Cardigans
iTunes stats: 70 plays
Previous ranking: #183
The Swedish band, who formed in 1992 and I saw live at the House of Blues back in 2004, moves up 22 spots thanks to a 45% increase in spins of their 3 tunes.
#161: Buddy Holly and the Crickets
iTunes stats: 70 plays
Previous ranking: NR
Our highest-ranking debut comes courtesy of the Texas singer, who died in a plane crash in 1959 along with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper following a show in Iowa.
#161: Alice Cooper
iTunes stats: 70 plays
Previous ranking: #147
The so-called Godfather of Shock Rock drops fourteen spots on the chart thanks to twelve additional plays spread across the three different tracks in my collection.