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 our next batch of 10 artists, the remaining 3 tied for 178th place, 2 tied for 176th, and the 5 tied for 171st, and zoom past the half a century mark in plays. Once again, 5 of these bands and/or performers are newcomers to this list.
#178: Depeche Mode
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Previous ranking: N/A
Members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class of 2020, the English band makes their debut by picking up 26 additional plays of their 3 songs in my collection.
#178: Coolio
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Previous ranking: #123
The 2 hit wonder, who won the 1996 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, drops 55 slots after parlaying those 2 hits into just 14 new listens over the past 4 years.
#178: Stan Bush
iTunes stats: 49 plays
Previous ranking: #159
The star of the TransFormers: The Movie soundtrack has 2 tracks comprise his total.
#176: Dean Martin
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous ranking: N/A
More than doubling his previous total gives the deceased Rat Packer a decent debut on the chart.
#176: Lita Ford
iTunes stats: 50 plays
Previous ranking: N/A
The former Runaways guitarist jumps onto the list mostly due to now getting credit for her 1989 duet with Ozzy Osbourne.
#171: K.C. & The Sunshine Band
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous ranking: N/A
The disco stalwarts added an impressive 35 new plays, the highest total to date, to the 4 songs they have in my collection gives them a nice debut.
#171: Juliana Hatfield
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous ranking: #194
The former Blake Babies member goes solo and more than doubles the listens to her 3 songs (although there’s a 4th collaboration with Tanya Donnelly that I should have included but didn’t) in my collection.
#171: Howard Stern
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous ranking: #179
Audio clips from the Private Parts soundtrack help the legendary shock jock move up 8 slots on the chart.
#171: Montell Jordan
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous ranking: #129
A big drop for the former singer (and current pastor), whose one big hit was used as Adam Eaton’s walkup music during his first tenure with the White Sox.
#171: Buddy Holly
iTunes stats: 51 plays
Previous ranking: N/A
A debut that shouldn’t be, as his previous total should have ranked if I included the one track credited to Buddy Holly & The Crickets.