Tag / American Music Awards

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #41-50

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 enter our final quarter of the list today with our next batch of ten artists, featuring a wide array of musical genres.

#50: Smashing Pumpkins
iTunes stats: 210 plays
Previous ranking: #58

65 new listens over the past five years enables the Chicago-based alternative band, led by that twat Billy Corgan, to move up eight spots in the rankings.

#49: Weird Al Yankovic
iTunes stats: 213 plays
Previous ranking: #50

The parody hit maker added 37 listens to the seven tracks in my collection over these past five years.

#48: The Cranberries
iTunes stats: 226 plays
Previous ranking: #53

Despite the untimely death of singer Dolores O’Riordan in 2018, the group scored a 68-listen increase, moving up five spots.

#47: John Morris
iTunes stats: 231 plays
Previous ranking: #46

The composer of the score from the best movie ever made, Clue: The Movie picked up 49 new plays.

#46: Boyz II Men
iTunes stats: 235 plays
Previous ranking: #48

The stars of my first concert added 58 new listens from their nine tunes in my collection, inching them up two spots in the rankings.

#45: Snoop Dogg
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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #70-80

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 three acts I’ve seen perform live.

#80: The Beastie Boys
iTunes stats: 140 plays
Previous ranking: #76

The hip-hop pioneers, who disbanded in 2012 after Adam Yauch died of cancer, picked up 25 new listens in the last five years, leading to a four-spot drop in the rankings.

#79: Bush
iTunes stats: 141 plays
Previous ranking: #79

The winners of the American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Group in 1998, who I saw in concert back in 1996, picked up 32 additional listens while dropping staying even on the list.

#78: Britney Spears
iTunes stats: 143 plays
Previous ranking: #79

The troubled pop princess and one-time Grammy Award winner (surprised you there, didn’t I) sees a 31% increase in plays over the past five years, going up one spot.

#77: Fiona Apple
iTunes stats: 147 plays
Previous ranking: #77

The Manhattan-born singer/songwriter, who I’ve seen in concert twice, picked up 33 new listens, raising her total 29%.

#76: Black Eyed Peas
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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #170-180

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.

#180: Nancy Faust
iTunes stats: 64 plays
Previous ranking: #140

The former White Sox organist, who returned for a few Sunday appearances last season, drops another 40 spots due to the removal of her then-final performance of Take Me Out to the Ballgame from my victory playlist, which means she only gained four new listens over these past five years.

#178: Firehouse
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous ranking: #188

The glam band, who somehow beat out both Alice in Chains and Nirvana for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist at the 1992 American Music Awards, added 20 new listens to the three songs that make up their play total.

#178: Letters to Cleo
iTunes stats: 65 plays
Previous ranking: #164

The years have not been kind to the Boston-based band, who have dropped 86 spots on this last over the past nine years, adding twelve listens to the three songs, only two of which I have actually listened to, in my collection.

#176: Depeche Mode
iTunes stats: 66 plays
Previous ranking: #178

Members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2020, the English band formed in 1980 picks up 17 additional plays of their three songs in my collection.

#176: Jason Segel
iTunes stats: 66 plays
Previous ranking: #169

The human star of The Muppets picked up fourteen additional plays for the four songs credited to him in my collection.

#170: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #41-50

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 start the final quarter of the list today with the next batch of 10 artists, with ties at 50th, 48th, and 43rd.

#50: Queen
iTunes stats: 176 plays
Previous ranking: #35

A big 15 spot drop for the band from England, due mostly to their dropping off the White Sox victory playlist now more than 10 years removed from their 2005 World Series title.

#48: Boyz II Men
iTunes stats: 177 plays
Previous ranking: #49

The stars of my first concert added 80 new listens from their 9 tunes in my collection, inching them up one spot in the rankings.

#48: Klaus Badelt
iTunes stats: 177 plays
Previous ranking: #30

The composer dropped 18 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.

#47: Snoop Dogg
iTunes stats: 181 plays
Previous ranking: #45

The ganja-smoking gangsta rapper, a somewhat surprising 14-time Grammy nominee, added 71 additional listens, dropping him two spots in the rankings.

#46: John Morris
iTunes stats: 182 plays
Previous ranking: #88

The composer of the score from the best movie ever made, Clue: The Movie.

#45: Purdue “All-American” Marching Band
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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #71-79

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 the 2 tied for 79th place followed by the single artists at 78th through 71st.

#79: Britney Spears
iTunes stats: 109 plays
Previous ranking: #71

The Grammy Award winner (surprised you there, didn’t I) sees a 79% increase in plays over the past 4 years while dropping 8 spots.

#79: Bush
iTunes stats: 109 plays
Previous ranking: #69

The winners of the American Music Award for Favorite Alternative Group in 1998, who I saw in concert back in 1996, picked up 46 additional listens while dropping 10 slots on the list.

#78: P.O.D.
iTunes stats: 112 plays
Previous ranking: #48

A big 30 spot drop for the band responsible for the entrance music for former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks.

#77: Fiona Apple
iTunes stats: 114 plays
Previous ranking: #81

Doubling her previous total enables the singer I’ve seen in concert twice to move up 4 spots on the chart.

#76: The Beastie Boys
iTunes stats: 115 plays
Previous ranking: #84

59 new listens in the last 4 years bumps the Beastie Boys up 8 spots in the rankings.

#75: U2
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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #188-197

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.

Today, we begin with 10 artists, 4 tied for 197th place, 3 tied for 194th, and the first 4 tied for 188th.  4 of these bands and/or performers are newcomers to this list.

#197: OutKast
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: #167

A slight increase of only 17 plays over 4 years drops the hip hop duo from Atlanta down 31 spots in the rankings.

#197: The Juliana Hatfield Three
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: #185

After breaking up with the Blake Babies, Juliana Hatfield put together this band before going solo, which drops 13 places after garnering only 19 new listens across its 2 tracks, including one from the Reality Bites soundtrack.

#197: Mariah Carey
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The icon makes her debut on the strength of 3 songs, none of which are her wildly successful Christmas classic, which have gone from 16 listens up to 44.

#197: Björk
iTunes stats: 44 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The Icelandic chartreuse scratches her way on to the list thanks to 2 solo tracks and 1 live duet with PJ Harvey.

#194: Firehouse
iTunes stats: 45 plays
Previous ranking: #185

The glam band, who somehow beat out Alice In Chains and Nirvana for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist at the 1992 American Music Awards, added 20 new listens to the 3 songs that make up their play total.

#194: Fall Out Boy
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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #179-185

3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 artists, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2017.

Today, we look at the remaining 6 bands tied for 185th with 25 plays apiece before starting with the first 4 bands tied for 179th, with 26.  Again, these are all new entries to the list from the original 2013 edition.

#179: PJ Harvey
iTunes stats: 26 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The 90s indie darling has a completely even split between 2 songs to make up this total.

#179: Soundgarden
iTunes stats: 26 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

5 different tracks from the bastions of Seattle’s alternative scene place them pretty low on the list.

#179: The B-52’s
iTunes stats: 26 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The Georgia-based band has 3 songs that make up this total.

#179: The Wonders
iTunes stats: 26 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The imaginary band from the hit 1996 film That Thing You Do! uses their one hit to make their way on to the chart.

#185: Cardigans
iTunes stats: 25 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The Swedish band, who I saw live in 2004, make the list thanks to 3 tunes.

#185: Darling Violetta
iTunes stats: 25 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The outfit responsible for the theme song to Angel rides that track to this spot on the chart.

#185: Firehouse
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Mix Tape Monday – Hair Bands

After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended. That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.

In addition to the occassional series of CDs I had burned in order to keep abreast of new music, I had created a bunch of genre-specific mixes that could be used both in the car and at the gym.  This week we will take a look at the first disc covering the rock music of the 1980s that was defined more by the amount of hair spray and spandex employed by the bands than by their musicianship or talent.  I now bring you Hair Bands, volume 1.

Alice Cooper – Poison

While Alice Cooper is mostly thought of as an artist of the 70s, he did have a comeback with this song in 1989, which became his biggest US hit.

iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 6/12/2012

Damn Yankees – High Enough

The supergroup, featuring Tommy Shaw of Styx, Jack Blades of Night Ranger, and Ted Nugent, formed in 1989 and hit big thanks to this ballad.

iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/30/2012

Danzig – Mother

Glenn Danzig’s band recorded this song for their first album in 1988, but it didn’t become a hit until 1993.

iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 4/23/2012

Firehouse – Love Of A Lifetime

At the 1992 American Music Awards, FireHouse beat out Nirvana and Alice In Chains for Favorite Heavy Metal/Hard Rock New Artist.

iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 9/6/2011

Great White – Once Bitten, Twice Shy

A cover of the minor Ian Hunter hit turned into gold for Great White, peaking at No.5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 18 plays, most recently on 9/6/2012

Lita Ford – Kiss Me Deadly

After several commercial failures following her break from The Runaways, Ford recorded a more radio-friendly album in 1988 and hit it big.  VH1 named this song as the 76th greatest hard rock song of all time.

iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 12/11/2012

Living Colour – Cult Of Personality

The first single from their debut album, it reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 andwon the Grammy award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1989.

iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 7/14/2012

Motley Crue – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

The fourth single from Motley Crue’s fifth album peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

iTunes stats: 19 plays, most recently on 6/2/2012

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