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, zooming into the 300 listen territory with reckless abandon.

#30: Metallica
iTunes stats: 263 plays
Previous ranking: #35

The one-time masters of metal manage to go up 5 spots in the rankings thanks to 115 new listens, despite dropping off my myriad White Sox victory playlists.

#29: Guns N’ Roses
iTunes stats: 264 plays
Previous ranking: #33

Axl Rose and his sometimes friends add 115 new listens to the now 21 songs in my collection to enable them to move up 4 positions in the rankings.

#28: The Monkees
iTunes stats: 279 plays
Previous ranking: #33

The made-for-TV band, who lost Peter Tork in 2019, had an 87% increase in their listens, moving them up 5 spots in the rankings.

#27: Avril Lavigne
iTunes stats: 297 plays
Previous ranking: #32

The 8 time Grammy nominee, who somehow has 25 tracks that I’ve listened to in my collection, added 145 new plays, which moved her up 5 spots on the charts.

#26: Veruca Salt
iTunes stats: 300 plays
Previous ranking: #26

The girls from Chicago, who I saw live in Champaign back in the day, used 14 songs to increase their plays by 125, allowing them to stay in the exact same slot.

#25: Weezer
iTunes stats: 302 plays
Previous ranking: #23

With only a 53% increase in listens to the 19 songs in my collection, the band dropped 2 spots in the rankings.

#24: Stone Temple Pilots
iTunes stats: 315 plays
Previous ranking: #24

The band, who I saw at the Elliot Hall of Music back in college, added 133 new listens in the past 4 years, allowing them to stay even in the rankings.

#23: Green Day
iTunes stats: 326 plays
Previous ranking: #27

The west coast punk rockers added 152 listens from their 18 songs to jump 4 spots in the rankings.

#22: Liz Phair
iTunes stats: 358 plays
Previous ranking: #24

The former local indie darling, who wrote a disappointing memoir last year, added 176 new listens to jump up 2 spots in the rankings.

#21: Eminem
iTunes stats: 367 plays
Previous ranking: #18

The same 16 tunes provided 152 new listens, causing the Detroit rapper to fall 3 slots from 4 years ago.