Tag / iTunes

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #21-29

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 the next batch of ten artists, half of which I have seen perform live at least once.

#29: Guns N’ Roses
iTunes stats: 360 plays
Previous ranking: #29

Axl Rose and his sometimes friends add 96 new listens to the now 21 songs in my collection, enabling them to remain at the same position in the rankings.

#29: Avril Lavigne
iTunes stats: 360 plays
Previous ranking: #27

The eight-time Grammy nominee, who somehow has 25 tracks that I’ve listened to in my collection, added just 63 new plays, which moved her down two spots on the charts.

#28: The Monkees
iTunes stats: 371 plays
Previous ranking: #28

The made-for-TV band, who are down to two living members following the death of Peter Tork in 2019, had a 33% increase in their listens, keeping them even in the rankings.

#27: Veruca Salt
iTunes stats: 373 plays
Previous ranking: #26

The girls from Chicago, who I saw live in Champaign back in the day, used fourteen songs to increase their plays by 73, allowing them to drop just a single slot.

#26: Weezer
iTunes stats: 400 plays
Previous ranking: #25

The 19 songs in my collection picked up 98 new listens, helping the band drop a spot in the rankings. Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #31-40

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 hit the top 40 today with the next batch of ten artists, much of which is tied in some way, shape, or form to one of the local baseball clubs.

#40: Tori Amos
iTunes stats: 263 plays
Previous ranking: #43

66 new listens for the same eleven songs over the past five years push the singer/songwriter, who I was supposed to see live at the Rosemont Horizon back in 1998 but missed due to a friend’s wedding, up three spots.

#39: The Rolling Stones
iTunes stats: 289 plays
Previous ranking: #37

The 1989 inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame added 76 additional listens, which dropped them two spots in the rankings.

#38: Steam
iTunes stats: 296 plays
Previous ranking: #36

A casualty of my White Sox victory playlist getting fewer plays over the last couple of years, Steam drops two spots in the rankings despite 76 additional plays.

#37: Harry Caray
iTunes stats: 300 plays
Previous ranking: #40

Two versions of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, one from his tenure in the White Sox booth and one from the Cubs, scored a 44% increase for the legendary broadcaster.

#36: Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers
iTunes stats: 308 plays
Previous ranking: #34

The novelty band, responsible for the White Sox rally song from 1959, added 79 listens in the past five years, causing them to drop two spots in the rankings.

#35: Dr. Dre
Continue reading →

by admin

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
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #61-70

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, including two I have seen perform live.

#70: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
iTunes stats: 162 plays
Previous ranking: #67

The inspiration for the musical Jersey Boys drops three spots after gaining 33 new plays.

#67: Toad the Wet Sprocket
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous ranking: #62

A five-spot drop thanks to a 23% increase in listens for the 90s alternative band from Santa Barbara, California.

#67: Oblivion
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous ranking: #73

The local punk band, fronted by a former co-worker, added 47 new listens to the ten tracks from their final album to make up this total.

#67: John Williams
iTunes stats: 168 plays
Previous ranking: #68

The composer of some of the most popular and recognizable film scores in cinematic history, including the Star Wars and Superman series, picks up 41 new listens over the last five years.

#64: The Bangles
Continue reading →

by admin

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
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #81-90

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, alternative rock, R&B, and metal, stretching from the 1960s through the 2000s.

#90: P.O.D.
iTunes stats: 122 plays
Previous ranking: #78

The San Diego band responsible for the entrance music for former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks added just ten new plays in the last five years.

#89: Bell Biv DeVoe
iTunes stats: 123 plays
Previous ranking: #83

A small 19% increase for the former members of New Edition cause them to drop six spots in the rankings.

#88: Ozzy Osbourne
iTunes stats: 124 plays
Previous ranking: #89

The one-time Prince of Darkness, who passed away last summer, picked up 31 new listens, for the six different tracks in my collection.

#85: UB40
iTunes stats: 126 plays
Previous ranking: #105

The British reggae band move up 20 spots on the list based on their 45 new listens, now spread across five different tracks.

#85: Christina Aguilera
iTunes stats: 126 plays
Previous ranking: #86

The former Mouseketeer and Voice star sees a 30% play increase, enabling her to rise a single spot.

#85: The Beach Boys
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #91-100

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
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #100-110

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 wrap up the first half of the list today with our next batch of ten artists, crossing over from play totals of two digits into three and featuring the highest charting debut.

#110: Chance the Rapper
iTunes stats: 99 plays
Previous ranking: #89

The two clips from the Chicago born rapper’s intro video for the 2016 White Sox gained only six new plays over the last five years.

#109: Pink
iTunes stats: 100 plays
Previous ranking: #107

The three-time Grammy winner added 22 additional listens to the four songs that are in my collection.

#108: The Strokes
iTunes stats: 102 plays
Previous ranking: #110

The alternative band from New York rises two spots on the list thanks to 29 new listens to four songs off their debut album, not including a mash-up with Christina Aguilera.

#107: The Outfield
iTunes stats: 103 plays
Previous ranking: #85

With their only song in my collection being the walkup music for former White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham, the group from London’s East End added a mere four plays over these past five years.

#106: Blues Brothers
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #111-120

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 a little hip hop and a lot of 90s alternative rock.

#120: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
iTunes stats: 87 plays
Previous ranking: #125

The punk rock supergroup, formed in San Francisco in 1995 and who only do covers, added 21 additional listens to the four tracks that are in my collection.

#119: Arrested Development
iTunes stats: 88 plays
Previous ranking: #122

The Atlanta-based new age rap band rises three slots thanks to 21 new listens to their three songs in my collection over the past five years.

#116: K’s Choice
iTunes stats: 91 plays
Previous ranking: #110

Only 18 new listens spread across the five different tracks from the arguable one-hit wonders from Belgium over these past five years led to a six-spot drop.

#116: MC Hammer
iTunes stats: 91 plays
Previous ranking: #122

The Oakland-born rapper, who served as a batboy for the A’s and earned the Hammer name due to a resemblance to Hank Aaron, added 24 plays to the five tracks in my collection.  Oh yeah, he was also the headliner of my first concert way back in 1992.

#116: Collective Soul
Continue reading →

by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #120-129

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, alternative rock, and rap, stretching from the 1950s through 90s.

#129: The Lemonheads
iTunes stats: 83 plays
Previous ranking: #125

Formed in Boston in 1986, Evan Dando and crew added 17 additional plays to the three tracks in my collection from their 90s heyday.

#129: Dion & The Belmonts
iTunes stats: 83 plays
Previous ranking: #120

Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2000, the 50s stars from the Bronx added fifteen new plays, dropping nine spots on the chart.

#124: Styx
iTunes stats: 85 plays
Previous ranking: #137

The group, formed in Chicago in 1972, saw a 39% increase thanks to 24 new listens over these past five years to the three tracks in my collection.

#124: The Go-Go’s
iTunes stats: 85 plays
Previous ranking: #133

The seminal female new wave band, who came out of the LA punk scene of the late 1970s, added 23 additional listens to the four tracks in my collection.

#124: The Presidents of the United States of America
Continue reading →