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
iTunes stats: 85 plays
Previous ranking: #128
Three songs from the Seattle band’s debut album picked up 21 listens, a nearly 33% increase, to move four spots up the chart.
#124: Lenny Kravitz
iTunes stats: 85 plays
Previous ranking: #128
The son of TV’s Roxie Roker adds 21 new plays to his previous total spread across the four tracks in my collection.
#124: LL Cool J
iTunes stats: 85 plays
Previous ranking: #143
The two-time Grammy winner from Queens added 26 new plays, giving him a 44% increase and moving 19 spots on the list.
#123: Madonna
iTunes stats: 86 plays
Previous ranking: #128
The Michigan-born singer, the most successful solo artist of all time on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, added 22 new listens spread across the five songs in my collection over the past five years.
#120: Rancid
iTunes stats: 87 plays
Previous ranking: #125
The punk band from Berkeley jumps five slots after picking up a nearly 32% increase in plays over these last five years.
#120: P.M. Dawn
iTunes stats: 87 plays
Previous ranking: #117
The trip-hop duo, formed in New Jersey in 1988, picked up 18 new plays for the three of their hit singles in my collection.