List

Understanding the List

A list was created to help determine the order in which artists/bands would be reviewed. For the Music Ranked! project, each artist will have their entire discography reviewed and their history researched through podcasts, documentaries, books, and other media. 

The list was created based on the founders of the Music Ranked! project –  Eric Hersey and Todd Hersey. They created a formula to determine their Top 100 artists/bands. A Rolling Stone article and Billboard article (both listing their Top 100) were used to add artists from the critics and general public. The list was created, weighing the personal favorites from Eric and Todd (slightly) over the totals from the magazines. You can learn more about the creation of the list.

The list is NOT an actual ranking of the best or favorite bands. This is just the initial order in which the music and artists will be ranked. 

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RankArtistScoreTodd’s RankingEric’s RankingRolling Stone’s RankingBillboard’s Ranking
001Beatles, The097009001001001
002Led Zeppelin088001012014040
003Pink Floyd073010007051086
004Doors072005010041N/A
005Queen064037004052087
006Electric Light Orchestra064004006N/AN/A
007Creedence Clearwater Revival059015019082100
008Elton John058095008049003
009Phil Collins057044014N/A046
010Guess Who056013020N/AN/A
011Rolling Stones056033099004002
012Black Sabbath056008035085N/A
013Chicago053080009N/A010
014Moody Blues053029015N/AN/A
015Journey053052002N/A081
016Nirvana053012068030N/A
017Who052018063029N/A
018Beach Boys051092037012029
019Eagles050091011075027
020Michael Jackson048N/A036035007
021Billy Joel048040059N/A019
022America047045016N/AN/A
023Fleetwood Mac047050048N/A030
024Simon And Garfunkel045N/A005040082
025Stevie Wonder045N/A054015009
026Weird Al Yankovic044066003N/AN/A
027Bee Gees044056051N/A028
028Foreigner044076017N/A057
029Yes042026050N/AN/A
030Jimi Hendrix042023N/A006N/A
031Bad Company040059023N/AN/A
032U2040N/A038022066
033Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young039057028N/AN/A
034Cake037014076N/AN/A
035Eric Clapton037N/A046055038
036Doobie Brothers035073024N/AN/A
037Paul Mccartney035N/A041N/A012
038Nine Inch Nails034002N/A094N/A
039Stone Temple Pilots034006095N/AN/A
040Aerosmith033097042059070
041Tool033003N/AN/AN/A
042David Bowie032065071039N/A
043Beastie Boys032016N/A077N/A
044Bon Jovi032N/A033N/A045
045Genesis031007N/AN/AN/A
046Elvis Presley031N/AN/A003013
047Alice In Chains030011N/AN/AN/A
048John Lennon030N/A043038N/A
049James Taylor030N/A022084099
050Tenacious D029N/A013N/AN/A
051Supertramp029042073N/AN/A
052Grand Funk Railroad028061057N/AN/A
053Steppenwolf028017N/AN/AN/A
054Boston028098021N/AN/A
055Oasis028N/A018N/AN/A
056Mad Season027019N/AN/AN/A
057Silversun Pickups027020N/AN/AN/A
058Madonna027N/AN/A036005
059Soundgarden027021N/AN/AN/A
060Aretha Franklin027N/AN/A009034
061Rage Against The Machine026022N/AN/AN/A
062Prince026N/AN/A027017
063Ramones026060N/A026N/A
064Bruce Springsteen026N/AN/A023024
065Rush026024N/AN/AN/A
066Kinks026043N/A065N/A
067Seals And Crofts025N/A025N/AN/A
068Frente!025025N/AN/AN/A
069Bob Dylan025N/AN/A002048
070Bread025N/A026N/AN/A
071Cream025053092067N/A
072R.E.M.025N/A029097N/A
073Steely Dan025027N/AN/AN/A
074Richard Marx025N/A027N/AN/A
075Heart024086055N/A077
076Tori Amos024028N/AN/AN/A
077Zombies024077053N/AN/A
078Sword024030N/AN/AN/A
079Air Supply024N/A030N/AN/A
080Iron Maiden024046086N/AN/A
081Green Day023N/A031N/AN/A
082Danzig023031N/AN/AN/A
083Toto023N/A032N/AN/A
084White Stripes023032N/AN/AN/A
085Linkin Park023N/A034N/A098
086Bob Seger023N/A049N/A069
087Me First And The Gimme Gimmes022034N/AN/AN/A
088Misfits022035N/AN/AN/A
089Steve Miller Band022068069N/AN/A
090Utopia022036N/AN/AN/A
091Alan Parsons Project021038N/AN/AN/A
092Scorpions021N/A039N/AN/A
093Marilyn Manson021039N/AN/AN/A
094Collective Soul020N/A040N/AN/A
095Gnarls Barkley020041N/AN/AN/A
096Marvin Gaye020N/AN/A018065
097Metallica020N/A062061N/A
098Lenny Kravitz019047097N/AN/A
099Lady Gaga019N/A066N/A056
100James Blunt019N/A044N/AN/A
101Marcy Playground019N/A045N/AN/A
102Turtles018N/A047N/AN/A
103Clash018084N/A028N/A
104Lionel Richie018N/A079N/A039
105A Perfect Circle018048N/AN/AN/A
106Styx017063087N/AN/A
107Inxs017049N/AN/AN/A
108Temptations017N/AN/A068032
109Tears For Fears017051N/AN/AN/A
110Mumford And Sons016N/A052N/AN/A
111Eminem016N/AN/A083022
112Mariah Carey016N/AN/AN/A004
113Chuck Berry016N/AN/A005N/A
114Barbra Streisand016N/AN/AN/A006
115Matthew Sweet016054N/AN/AN/A
116Guns And Roses016088075092095
117James Brown016N/AN/A007N/A
118Little Richard016N/AN/A008N/A
119Taylor Swift016N/AN/AN/A008
120Blue Öyster Cult015055N/AN/AN/A
121Ray Charles015N/AN/A010N/A
122Gorillaz015N/A056N/AN/A
123Bob Marley015N/AN/A011N/A
124Whitney Houston015N/AN/AN/A011
125Buddy Holly015N/AN/A013N/A
126Janet Jackson015N/AN/AN/A014
127Reo Speedwagon014N/A058N/AN/A
128Rod Stewart014N/AN/AN/A015
129Sam Cooke014N/AN/A016N/A
130Drake014N/AN/AN/A016
131Muddy Waters014N/AN/A017N/A
132Rihanna014N/AN/AN/A018
133Sublime014N/A060N/AN/A
134Velvet Underground014N/AN/A019N/A
135Bo Diddley014N/AN/A020N/A
136Garth Brooks014N/AN/AN/A020
137Meat Loaf013N/A061N/AN/A
138Otis Redding013N/AN/A021N/A
139Herb Alpert013N/AN/AN/A021
140White Zombie013062N/AN/AN/A
141Usher013N/AN/AN/A023
142Jerry Lee Lewis013N/AN/A024N/A
143Fats Domino013N/AN/A025N/A
144Neil Diamond013N/AN/AN/A025
145Supremes013N/AN/AN/A026
146Panic! At The Disco012N/A064N/AN/A
147No Doubt012064N/AN/AN/A
148Cat Stevens012N/A065N/AN/A
149Johnny Cash012N/AN/A031N/A
150Santana012N/AN/AN/A031
151Van Halen012083N/AN/A068
152Smokey Robinson And The Miracles012N/AN/A032N/A
153Animals011067N/AN/AN/A
154Amos Lee011N/A067N/AN/A
155Everly Brothers011N/AN/A033N/A
156Celine Dion011N/AN/AN/A033
157Neil Young011N/AN/A034N/A
158Daryl Hall John Oates011N/AN/AN/A035
159Adele011N/AN/AN/A036
160Harry Connick, Jr.011069N/AN/AN/A
161Roy Orbison011N/AN/A037N/A
162Jay-Z011N/AN/A088050
163Beyonce011N/AN/AN/A037
164Cars010N/A070N/AN/A
165Badfinger010070N/AN/AN/A
166Dance Hall Crashers010071N/AN/AN/A
167Bruno Mars010N/AN/AN/A041
168Van Morrison010N/AN/A042N/A
169Diana Ross010N/AN/A096047
170John Denver010N/AN/AN/A042
171B-52’S010072N/AN/AN/A
172Wings010N/A072N/AN/A
173Sly And The Family Stone010N/AN/A043N/A
174Maroon 5010N/AN/AN/A043
175Public Enemy010N/AN/A044N/A
176Olivia Newton-John010N/AN/AN/A044
177Byrds009N/AN/A045N/A
178Janis Joplin009N/AN/A046N/A
179Smashing Pumpkins009074N/AN/AN/A
180Blue October009N/A074N/AN/A
181Patti Smith009N/AN/A047N/A
182Run-D.M.C.009N/AN/A048N/A
183Ministry009075N/AN/AN/A
184John Mellencamp009N/AN/AN/A049
185Band009N/AN/A050N/A
186Donna Summer008N/AN/AN/A051
187Nickelback008N/AN/AN/A052
188Peter Gabriel008N/A077N/AN/A
189Allman Brothers Band008N/AN/A053N/A
190Boyz II Men008N/AN/AN/A053
191Talking Heads008078N/A100N/A
192Howlin’ Wolf008N/AN/A054N/A
193Carpenters008N/AN/AN/A054
194Dio008N/A078N/AN/A
195Justin Bieber008N/AN/AN/A055
196Dr. Dre008N/AN/A056N/A
197Joe Jackson007079N/AN/AN/A
198Grateful Dead007N/AN/A057N/A
199Parliament-Funkadelic007N/AN/A058N/A
200Britney Spears007N/AN/AN/A058
201Jethro Tull007N/A080N/AN/A
202P!Nk007N/AN/AN/A059
203Sex Pistols007N/AN/A060N/A
204Alicia Keys007N/AN/AN/A060
205Sneaker Pimps007081N/AN/AN/A
206Third Eye Blind007N/A081N/AN/A
207Katy Perry007N/AN/AN/A061
208Joni Mitchell007N/AN/A062N/A
209Miley Cyrus007N/AN/AN/A062
210Bachman-Turner Overdrive006082N/AN/AN/A
211Gordon Lightfoot006N/A082N/AN/A
212Tina Turner006N/AN/A063N/A
213Jacksons006N/AN/AN/A063
214Phil Spector006N/AN/A064N/A
215Earth, Wind And Fire006N/AN/AN/A064
216Association006N/A083N/AN/A
217Al Green006N/AN/A066N/A
218Duran Duran006N/A084N/AN/A
219Linda Ronstadt006N/AN/AN/A067
220Cranberries005085N/AN/AN/A
221Mamas And The Papas005N/A085N/AN/A
222Jackie Wilson005N/AN/A069N/A
223Three Dog Night005N/A091N/A090
224Police005N/AN/A070N/A
225Frank Zappa005N/AN/A071N/A
226Black Eyed Peas005N/AN/AN/A071
227AC/DC005N/AN/A072N/A
228Nelly005N/AN/AN/A072
229Gruntruck005087N/AN/AN/A
230Radiohead005N/AN/A073N/A
231Carole King005N/AN/AN/A073
232Hank Williams005N/AN/A074N/A
233Justin Timberlake005N/AN/AN/A074
234Peter Frampton004N/A088N/AN/A
235Monkees004N/AN/AN/A075
236Shirelles004N/AN/A076N/A
237Kenny Rogers004N/AN/AN/A076
238Devo004089N/AN/AN/A
239Glen Campbell004N/A089N/AN/A
240Stooges004N/AN/A078N/A
241Tim Mcgraw004N/AN/AN/A078
242Luscious Jackson004090N/AN/AN/A
243Lynyrd Skynyrd004N/A093095N/A
244Four Tops004N/AN/A079N/A
245Barry Manilow004N/AN/AN/A079
246Elvis Costello004N/AN/A080N/A
247R. Kelly004N/AN/AN/A080
248Drifters003N/AN/A081N/A
249Michael Bolton003N/AN/AN/A083
250Ed Sheeran003N/AN/AN/A084
251Beck003093N/AN/AN/A
252Kelly Clarkson003N/AN/AN/A085
253Tupac003N/AN/A086N/A
254Garbage002094N/AN/AN/A
255Gram Parsons002N/AN/A087N/A
256Mary J. Blige002N/AN/AN/A088
257Yardbirds002N/AN/A089N/A
258Kanye West002N/AN/AN/A089
259Carlos Santana002N/AN/A090N/A
260Foo Fighters002N/A096N/AN/A
261Natalie Merchant002096N/AN/AN/A
262Tom Petty002N/AN/A091N/A
263Commodores002N/AN/AN/A091
264Paula Abdul002N/AN/AN/A092
265Booker T. And The M.G.’S001N/AN/A093N/A
266Bryan Adams001N/AN/AN/A093
267Chris Brown001N/AN/AN/A094
268Def Leppard001N/AN/AN/A096
269Temple Of The Dog001099N/AN/AN/A
270Huey Lewis And The News001N/AN/AN/A097
271Curtis Mayfield001N/AN/A098N/A
272Faith No More000100N/AN/AN/A
273Carl Perkins000N/AN/A099N/A

Making the List

The original list contains 273 artists and is a combination of Eric, Todd, Rolling Stone, and Billboard Top 100. 

This list is used to determine the order in which content will be produced for MusicRanked.com.

100 Greatest Artists by Rolling Stone Magazine

The list was created by having Eric Hersey and Todd Hersey manually review their favorite artists/bands. Based on this list (which averaged to be around 150 bands/artists), this list was added to a free website that allowed you to select “this or that”. Eric/Todd was asked to pick one band over the other, based on their subjective opinion.

This list generated the Top 100 for each individual.

 

100 Greatest Artists by Rolling Stone Magazine

Known for being a music-centered publication and highly regarded by industry experts, an article from 2010 was used to be the basis of “expert opinions”. 

It appears the 2010 article was also a rehashing from 2004, but the premise is the same. They surveyed and interviewed a panel of 55 top musicians, writers, and industry executives. 

By including this list, we added in some needed expert opinions and variety. Instead of skewing the list on personal preference, classic artists like Elvis and Chuck Berry made the list. 

100 Greatest of All Time Artists by Billboard.com

Record sales and the general fandom of the greater population needed to be accounted for on the list. Billboard.com keeps a list of the Greatest of All Time Artists and a snapshot of the list was used in 2022 to determine the “popular” vote to be included on the list. 

By including Billboard, popular artists like Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand, and Taylor Swift are included in the list. These are far from personal favorites from the website authors, but it’s important to rank music that you dislike as much as the music you enjoy. 

Weighted Formula

Considering the authors of the website (Eric Hersey/Todd Hersey) are going through the exercise of listening and ranking the music, their list has additional weight over the artists from Rolling Stone or Billboard

This will frontload most of the list with Eric and Todd’s personal favorites but also pushes in the top choices from Rolling Stone and Billboard

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