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 kick off the second half of our list today with the next batch of ten artists, spanning the 60s through the 90s, and including a certain green, felt frog.
#100: Bobby Brown
iTunes stats: 113 plays
Previous ranking: #101
The Boston-born former member of New Edition picked up 29 new listens spread across the five solo tracks in my collection.
#99: Soundgarden
iTunes stats: 114 plays
Previous ranking: #101
A nearly 36% increase for the five different tracks that I’ve listened to from the bastions of Seattle’s alternative scene.
#98: Ugly Kid Joe
iTunes stats: 115 plays
Previous ranking: #96
The California-based hard rock band, who missed out on opening for Def Leppard at the World back in the summer of 1993 after singer Whitfield Crane got himself arrested the previous night in Columbus, Ohio for encouraging the crowd to attack the security guards, managed to pick up 35 new listens over these last five years.
#97: Tommy James & The Shondells
iTunes stats: 117 plays
Previous ranking: #96
The Michigan-based 60s psychedelic group added 29 additional plays to the four songs that are in my collection.
#96: Roxette
iTunes stats: 119 plays
Previous ranking: #89
Sweden’s second best-selling musical act of all time after Abba, the pop duo added 26 new listens while dropping seven spots on the chart.
#92: Alice In Chains
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous ranking: #94
The eleven-time Grammy nominees, whose lead singer Layne Staley died in 2002, picked up 30 additional plays, increasing their total by 33%.
#92: Gin Blossoms
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous ranking: #98
A 41% increase in plays for the five different tracks in my collection from the Arizona-based band leads to a six-spot rise.
#92: Carpenters
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous ranking: #98
The king and queen of 70s soft rock raised their plays by 41% for the six separate tracks in my collection thanks to 35 new listens over these past five years.
#92: Prince
iTunes stats: 120 plays
Previous ranking: #92
The one-time New Girl guest star, who passed away in 2016, added 28 new listens, keeping him in the exact same chart position.
#91: Kermit the Frog
iTunes stats: 121 plays
Previous ranking: #84
The world’s most favorite Muppet added just 19 new listens to the seven tracks in my collection.