iTunes Top 200 Artists: #11-20

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 final batch of ten artists, bringing us to the brink of the top ten.

#20: Nirvana
iTunes stats: 495 plays
Previous ranking: #20

The seven-time Grammy nominees, and one time winner, stay even on the charts thanks to 121 new listens, good for a 32% increase.

#19: R.E.M.
iTunes stats: 503 plays
Previous ranking: #18

The 2007 inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picked up 115 additional plays over the past five years, dropping them one spot.

#18: Elvis Presley
iTunes stats: 510 plays
Previous ranking: #16

The King of Rock & Roll, who died in 1977, adds 111 plays to his total from five years ago, dropping two spots in the rankings.

#17: Taylor Swift
iTunes stats: 212 plays
Previous ranking: #38

The fourteen-time Grammy winner, who is halfway towards an EGOT, saw a 158% increase with 336 new plays, thanks in part to a many new albums added to the collection.

#15: Alanis Morissette
iTunes stats: 576 plays
Previous ranking: #15

The former You Can’t Do That on Television star, who I saw in 1996 at the New World Music Theater, added 161 new listens to steady even in the rankings.

#15: Bon Jovi
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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #31-40

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
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