List - Music Ranked

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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Rank	Artist	Score	Todd’s Ranking	Eric’s Ranking	Rolling Stone’s Ranking	Billboard’s Ranking
001	Beatles, The	097	009	001	001	001
002	Led Zeppelin	088	001	012	014	040
003	Pink Floyd	073	010	007	051	086
004	Doors	072	005	010	041	N/A
005	Queen	064	037	004	052	087
006	Electric Light Orchestra	064	004	006	N/A	N/A
007	Creedence Clearwater Revival	059	015	019	082	100
008	Elton John	058	095	008	049	003
009	Phil Collins	057	044	014	N/A	046
010	Guess Who	056	013	020	N/A	N/A
011	Rolling Stones	056	033	099	004	002
012	Black Sabbath	056	008	035	085	N/A
013	Chicago	053	080	009	N/A	010
014	Moody Blues	053	029	015	N/A	N/A
015	Journey	053	052	002	N/A	081
016	Nirvana	053	012	068	030	N/A
017	Who	052	018	063	029	N/A
018	Beach Boys	051	092	037	012	029
019	Eagles	050	091	011	075	027
020	Michael Jackson	048	N/A	036	035	007
021	Billy Joel	048	040	059	N/A	019
022	America	047	045	016	N/A	N/A
023	Fleetwood Mac	047	050	048	N/A	030
024	Simon And Garfunkel	045	N/A	005	040	082
025	Stevie Wonder	045	N/A	054	015	009
026	Weird Al Yankovic	044	066	003	N/A	N/A
027	Bee Gees	044	056	051	N/A	028
028	Foreigner	044	076	017	N/A	057
029	Yes	042	026	050	N/A	N/A
030	Jimi Hendrix	042	023	N/A	006	N/A
031	Bad Company	040	059	023	N/A	N/A
032	U2	040	N/A	038	022	066
033	Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young	039	057	028	N/A	N/A
034	Cake	037	014	076	N/A	N/A
035	Eric Clapton	037	N/A	046	055	038
036	Doobie Brothers	035	073	024	N/A	N/A
037	Paul Mccartney	035	N/A	041	N/A	012
038	Nine Inch Nails	034	002	N/A	094	N/A
039	Stone Temple Pilots	034	006	095	N/A	N/A
040	Aerosmith	033	097	042	059	070
041	Tool	033	003	N/A	N/A	N/A
042	David Bowie	032	065	071	039	N/A
043	Beastie Boys	032	016	N/A	077	N/A
044	Bon Jovi	032	N/A	033	N/A	045
045	Genesis	031	007	N/A	N/A	N/A
046	Elvis Presley	031	N/A	N/A	003	013
047	Alice In Chains	030	011	N/A	N/A	N/A
048	John Lennon	030	N/A	043	038	N/A
049	James Taylor	030	N/A	022	084	099
050	Tenacious D	029	N/A	013	N/A	N/A
051	Supertramp	029	042	073	N/A	N/A
052	Grand Funk Railroad	028	061	057	N/A	N/A
053	Steppenwolf	028	017	N/A	N/A	N/A
054	Boston	028	098	021	N/A	N/A
055	Oasis	028	N/A	018	N/A	N/A
056	Mad Season	027	019	N/A	N/A	N/A
057	Silversun Pickups	027	020	N/A	N/A	N/A
058	Madonna	027	N/A	N/A	036	005
059	Soundgarden	027	021	N/A	N/A	N/A
060	Aretha Franklin	027	N/A	N/A	009	034
061	Rage Against The Machine	026	022	N/A	N/A	N/A
062	Prince	026	N/A	N/A	027	017
063	Ramones	026	060	N/A	026	N/A
064	Bruce Springsteen	026	N/A	N/A	023	024
065	Rush	026	024	N/A	N/A	N/A
066	Kinks	026	043	N/A	065	N/A
067	Seals And Crofts	025	N/A	025	N/A	N/A
068	Frente!	025	025	N/A	N/A	N/A
069	Bob Dylan	025	N/A	N/A	002	048
070	Bread	025	N/A	026	N/A	N/A
071	Cream	025	053	092	067	N/A
072	R.E.M.	025	N/A	029	097	N/A
073	Steely Dan	025	027	N/A	N/A	N/A
074	Richard Marx	025	N/A	027	N/A	N/A
075	Heart	024	086	055	N/A	077
076	Tori Amos	024	028	N/A	N/A	N/A
077	Zombies	024	077	053	N/A	N/A
078	Sword	024	030	N/A	N/A	N/A
079	Air Supply	024	N/A	030	N/A	N/A
080	Iron Maiden	024	046	086	N/A	N/A
081	Green Day	023	N/A	031	N/A	N/A
082	Danzig	023	031	N/A	N/A	N/A
083	Toto	023	N/A	032	N/A	N/A
084	White Stripes	023	032	N/A	N/A	N/A
085	Linkin Park	023	N/A	034	N/A	098
086	Bob Seger	023	N/A	049	N/A	069
087	Me First And The Gimme Gimmes	022	034	N/A	N/A	N/A
088	Misfits	022	035	N/A	N/A	N/A
089	Steve Miller Band	022	068	069	N/A	N/A
090	Utopia	022	036	N/A	N/A	N/A
091	Alan Parsons Project	021	038	N/A	N/A	N/A
092	Scorpions	021	N/A	039	N/A	N/A
093	Marilyn Manson	021	039	N/A	N/A	N/A
094	Collective Soul	020	N/A	040	N/A	N/A
095	Gnarls Barkley	020	041	N/A	N/A	N/A
096	Marvin Gaye	020	N/A	N/A	018	065
097	Metallica	020	N/A	062	061	N/A
098	Lenny Kravitz	019	047	097	N/A	N/A
099	Lady Gaga	019	N/A	066	N/A	056
100	James Blunt	019	N/A	044	N/A	N/A
101	Marcy Playground	019	N/A	045	N/A	N/A
102	Turtles	018	N/A	047	N/A	N/A
103	Clash	018	084	N/A	028	N/A
104	Lionel Richie	018	N/A	079	N/A	039
105	A Perfect Circle	018	048	N/A	N/A	N/A
106	Styx	017	063	087	N/A	N/A
107	Inxs	017	049	N/A	N/A	N/A
108	Temptations	017	N/A	N/A	068	032
109	Tears For Fears	017	051	N/A	N/A	N/A
110	Mumford And Sons	016	N/A	052	N/A	N/A
111	Eminem	016	N/A	N/A	083	022
112	Mariah Carey	016	N/A	N/A	N/A	004
113	Chuck Berry	016	N/A	N/A	005	N/A
114	Barbra Streisand	016	N/A	N/A	N/A	006
115	Matthew Sweet	016	054	N/A	N/A	N/A
116	Guns And Roses	016	088	075	092	095
117	James Brown	016	N/A	N/A	007	N/A
118	Little Richard	016	N/A	N/A	008	N/A
119	Taylor Swift	016	N/A	N/A	N/A	008
120	Blue Öyster Cult	015	055	N/A	N/A	N/A
121	Ray Charles	015	N/A	N/A	010	N/A
122	Gorillaz	015	N/A	056	N/A	N/A
123	Bob Marley	015	N/A	N/A	011	N/A
124	Whitney Houston	015	N/A	N/A	N/A	011
125	Buddy Holly	015	N/A	N/A	013	N/A
126	Janet Jackson	015	N/A	N/A	N/A	014
127	Reo Speedwagon	014	N/A	058	N/A	N/A
128	Rod Stewart	014	N/A	N/A	N/A	015
129	Sam Cooke	014	N/A	N/A	016	N/A
130	Drake	014	N/A	N/A	N/A	016
131	Muddy Waters	014	N/A	N/A	017	N/A
132	Rihanna	014	N/A	N/A	N/A	018
133	Sublime	014	N/A	060	N/A	N/A
134	Velvet Underground	014	N/A	N/A	019	N/A
135	Bo Diddley	014	N/A	N/A	020	N/A
136	Garth Brooks	014	N/A	N/A	N/A	020
137	Meat Loaf	013	N/A	061	N/A	N/A
138	Otis Redding	013	N/A	N/A	021	N/A
139	Herb Alpert	013	N/A	N/A	N/A	021
140	White Zombie	013	062	N/A	N/A	N/A
141	Usher	013	N/A	N/A	N/A	023
142	Jerry Lee Lewis	013	N/A	N/A	024	N/A
143	Fats Domino	013	N/A	N/A	025	N/A
144	Neil Diamond	013	N/A	N/A	N/A	025
145	Supremes	013	N/A	N/A	N/A	026
146	Panic! At The Disco	012	N/A	064	N/A	N/A
147	No Doubt	012	064	N/A	N/A	N/A
148	Cat Stevens	012	N/A	065	N/A	N/A
149	Johnny Cash	012	N/A	N/A	031	N/A
150	Santana	012	N/A	N/A	N/A	031
151	Van Halen	012	083	N/A	N/A	068
152	Smokey Robinson And The Miracles	012	N/A	N/A	032	N/A
153	Animals	011	067	N/A	N/A	N/A
154	Amos Lee	011	N/A	067	N/A	N/A
155	Everly Brothers	011	N/A	N/A	033	N/A
156	Celine Dion	011	N/A	N/A	N/A	033
157	Neil Young	011	N/A	N/A	034	N/A
158	Daryl Hall John Oates	011	N/A	N/A	N/A	035
159	Adele	011	N/A	N/A	N/A	036
160	Harry Connick, Jr.	011	069	N/A	N/A	N/A
161	Roy Orbison	011	N/A	N/A	037	N/A
162	Jay-Z	011	N/A	N/A	088	050
163	Beyonce	011	N/A	N/A	N/A	037
164	Cars	010	N/A	070	N/A	N/A
165	Badfinger	010	070	N/A	N/A	N/A
166	Dance Hall Crashers	010	071	N/A	N/A	N/A
167	Bruno Mars	010	N/A	N/A	N/A	041
168	Van Morrison	010	N/A	N/A	042	N/A
169	Diana Ross	010	N/A	N/A	096	047
170	John Denver	010	N/A	N/A	N/A	042
171	B-52’S	010	072	N/A	N/A	N/A
172	Wings	010	N/A	072	N/A	N/A
173	Sly And The Family Stone	010	N/A	N/A	043	N/A
174	Maroon 5	010	N/A	N/A	N/A	043
175	Public Enemy	010	N/A	N/A	044	N/A
176	Olivia Newton-John	010	N/A	N/A	N/A	044
177	Byrds	009	N/A	N/A	045	N/A
178	Janis Joplin	009	N/A	N/A	046	N/A
179	Smashing Pumpkins	009	074	N/A	N/A	N/A
180	Blue October	009	N/A	074	N/A	N/A
181	Patti Smith	009	N/A	N/A	047	N/A
182	Run-D.M.C.	009	N/A	N/A	048	N/A
183	Ministry	009	075	N/A	N/A	N/A
184	John Mellencamp	009	N/A	N/A	N/A	049
185	Band	009	N/A	N/A	050	N/A
186	Donna Summer	008	N/A	N/A	N/A	051
187	Nickelback	008	N/A	N/A	N/A	052
188	Peter Gabriel	008	N/A	077	N/A	N/A
189	Allman Brothers Band	008	N/A	N/A	053	N/A
190	Boyz II Men	008	N/A	N/A	N/A	053
191	Talking Heads	008	078	N/A	100	N/A
192	Howlin’ Wolf	008	N/A	N/A	054	N/A
193	Carpenters	008	N/A	N/A	N/A	054
194	Dio	008	N/A	078	N/A	N/A
195	Justin Bieber	008	N/A	N/A	N/A	055
196	Dr. Dre	008	N/A	N/A	056	N/A
197	Joe Jackson	007	079	N/A	N/A	N/A
198	Grateful Dead	007	N/A	N/A	057	N/A
199	Parliament-Funkadelic	007	N/A	N/A	058	N/A
200	Britney Spears	007	N/A	N/A	N/A	058
201	Jethro Tull	007	N/A	080	N/A	N/A
202	P!Nk	007	N/A	N/A	N/A	059
203	Sex Pistols	007	N/A	N/A	060	N/A
204	Alicia Keys	007	N/A	N/A	N/A	060
205	Sneaker Pimps	007	081	N/A	N/A	N/A
206	Third Eye Blind	007	N/A	081	N/A	N/A
207	Katy Perry	007	N/A	N/A	N/A	061
208	Joni Mitchell	007	N/A	N/A	062	N/A
209	Miley Cyrus	007	N/A	N/A	N/A	062
210	Bachman-Turner Overdrive	006	082	N/A	N/A	N/A
211	Gordon Lightfoot	006	N/A	082	N/A	N/A
212	Tina Turner	006	N/A	N/A	063	N/A
213	Jacksons	006	N/A	N/A	N/A	063
214	Phil Spector	006	N/A	N/A	064	N/A
215	Earth, Wind And Fire	006	N/A	N/A	N/A	064
216	Association	006	N/A	083	N/A	N/A
217	Al Green	006	N/A	N/A	066	N/A
218	Duran Duran	006	N/A	084	N/A	N/A
219	Linda Ronstadt	006	N/A	N/A	N/A	067
220	Cranberries	005	085	N/A	N/A	N/A
221	Mamas And The Papas	005	N/A	085	N/A	N/A
222	Jackie Wilson	005	N/A	N/A	069	N/A
223	Three Dog Night	005	N/A	091	N/A	090
224	Police	005	N/A	N/A	070	N/A
225	Frank Zappa	005	N/A	N/A	071	N/A
226	Black Eyed Peas	005	N/A	N/A	N/A	071
227	AC/DC	005	N/A	N/A	072	N/A
228	Nelly	005	N/A	N/A	N/A	072
229	Gruntruck	005	087	N/A	N/A	N/A
230	Radiohead	005	N/A	N/A	073	N/A
231	Carole King	005	N/A	N/A	N/A	073
232	Hank Williams	005	N/A	N/A	074	N/A
233	Justin Timberlake	005	N/A	N/A	N/A	074
234	Peter Frampton	004	N/A	088	N/A	N/A
235	Monkees	004	N/A	N/A	N/A	075
236	Shirelles	004	N/A	N/A	076	N/A
237	Kenny Rogers	004	N/A	N/A	N/A	076
238	Devo	004	089	N/A	N/A	N/A
239	Glen Campbell	004	N/A	089	N/A	N/A
240	Stooges	004	N/A	N/A	078	N/A
241	Tim Mcgraw	004	N/A	N/A	N/A	078
242	Luscious Jackson	004	090	N/A	N/A	N/A
243	Lynyrd Skynyrd	004	N/A	093	095	N/A
244	Four Tops	004	N/A	N/A	079	N/A
245	Barry Manilow	004	N/A	N/A	N/A	079
246	Elvis Costello	004	N/A	N/A	080	N/A
247	R. Kelly	004	N/A	N/A	N/A	080
248	Drifters	003	N/A	N/A	081	N/A
249	Michael Bolton	003	N/A	N/A	N/A	083
250	Ed Sheeran	003	N/A	N/A	N/A	084
251	Beck	003	093	N/A	N/A	N/A
252	Kelly Clarkson	003	N/A	N/A	N/A	085
253	Tupac	003	N/A	N/A	086	N/A
254	Garbage	002	094	N/A	N/A	N/A
255	Gram Parsons	002	N/A	N/A	087	N/A
256	Mary J. Blige	002	N/A	N/A	N/A	088
257	Yardbirds	002	N/A	N/A	089	N/A
258	Kanye West	002	N/A	N/A	N/A	089
259	Carlos Santana	002	N/A	N/A	090	N/A
260	Foo Fighters	002	N/A	096	N/A	N/A
261	Natalie Merchant	002	096	N/A	N/A	N/A
262	Tom Petty	002	N/A	N/A	091	N/A
263	Commodores	002	N/A	N/A	N/A	091
264	Paula Abdul	002	N/A	N/A	N/A	092
265	Booker T. And The M.G.’S	001	N/A	N/A	093	N/A
266	Bryan Adams	001	N/A	N/A	N/A	093
267	Chris Brown	001	N/A	N/A	N/A	094
268	Def Leppard	001	N/A	N/A	N/A	096
269	Temple Of The Dog	001	099	N/A	N/A	N/A
270	Huey Lewis And The News	001	N/A	N/A	N/A	097
271	Curtis Mayfield	001	N/A	N/A	098	N/A
272	Faith No More	000	100	N/A	N/A	N/A
273	Carl Perkins	000	N/A	N/A	099	N/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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