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, at least three of which had a key member die prematurely and another three helped greatly by inclusion in my baseball victory playlists.
#60: Warrant
iTunes stats: 178 plays
Previous ranking: #65
Formed in 1984 in Hollywood, the band, whose lead singer died of alcohol poisoning in 2011, picked up 47 new listens, which moved them up five slots.
#59: Run-D.M.C.
iTunes stats: 125 plays
Previous ranking: #61
The rap pioneers from New York added 39 new listens to their six songs in my collection, including their collaboration with Aerosmith.
#58: Cracker
iTunes stats: 183 plays
Previous ranking: #56
A small 20% increase for the Georgia rockers thanks to 30 new plays over these past five years.
#57: Klaus Badelt
iTunes stats: 184 plays
Previous ranking: #48
The composer dropped nine spots in the rankings due to the White Sox no longer using his theme from Pirates of the Caribbean as part of their pre-game routine and its subsequent removal from my victory playlists.
#56: Hole
iTunes stats: 191 plays
Previous ranking: #54
Six songs, allegedly written mostly by Kurt Cobain and Billy Corgan, added 35 new listens over the past five years for Courtney Love’s band, causing a two-spot drop in the rankings.
#55: TLC
iTunes stats: 192 plays
Previous ranking: #59
Now with seven songs in my collection, the R&B trio from Atlanta score an additional 49 plays, pushing them up four spots after a 34% increase.
#53: Journey
iTunes stats: 196 plays
Previous ranking: #52
The removal of Don’t Stop Believin’ from my White Sox victory playlist has caused the band to drop in the rankings, raising their play total by just 15%.
#53: Cheap Trick
iTunes stats: 196 plays
Previous ranking: #56
The boys from Rockford, who I have seen open up for two other bands on this list, add an additional 43 listens, which pushes them up three spots on the list.
#52: Queen
iTunes stats: 201 plays
Previous ranking: #50
A small two-spot drop for the band from England, due mostly to their dropping off the White Sox victory playlist now more than 20 years removed from their 2005 World Series title.
#51: Ron Funches
iTunes stats: 209 plays
Previous ranking: #43
The skip button has not been kind to the comedian, who added just twelve new listens over these past five years.