Popular Opinion The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time  

Originally by Ranker Music

13.1M votes 54.4k voters 436.8k views 1,999 items

List Rules The best artists of any genre

1

14,114 11,058

First L added The Beatles Pop music, Rock music, Pop rock

2

14,440 10,256

First L added Queen Pop music, Rock music, Heavy metal

3

13,045 10,906

First L added Pink Floyd Rock music, Space rock, Experimental rock

4

13,351 9,792

First L added Led Zeppelin Blues-rock, Classic rock, Rock music

5

11,613 9,167

First L added The Rolling Stones Blues-rock, Rock music, Protopunk

6

13,438 10,174

First L added Michael Jackson Motown Sound, Rock music, Electronic music

7

11,577 9,354

First L added Elvis Presley Christian music, Pop music, Rock music

8

10,388 9,491

First L added The Who Popular music, Pop music, Rock music

9

11,422 8,198

First L added Jimi Hendrix Blues-rock, Rock music, Experimental rock

10

11,178 8,646

First L added David Bowie Rock music, Psychedelic pop, Electronic music

11

10,396 8,899

First L added Bob Dylan Blues-rock, Rock music, Folk music

12

10,562 9,095

First L added AC/DC Blues-rock, Boogie rock, Rock music

13

10,143 8,286

Simon and Garfunkel Pop music, Worldbeat, Rock music

14

10,323 8,089

First L added Elton John Pop music, Rock music, Piano rock

15

10,212 8,219

First L added The Doors Blues-rock, Rock music, Protopunk

16

10,427 8,382

First L added Prince Hip hop music, Synthpop, New Wave

17

9,293 8,278

First L added Aretha Franklin Pop music, Rock music, Rhythm and blues

18

11,093 7,784

Ludwig van Beethoven Opera, Classical music

19

9,281 9,030

First L added U2 Rock music, Alternative rock, Punk rock

20

10,715 8,400

First L added Nirvana Rock music, Grunge, Alternative rock

21

9,809 7,931

First L added Fleetwood Mac Blues-rock, Pop music, Rock music

22

9,122 8,402

First L added Bee Gees Adult contemporary music, Blue-eyed soul, Disco

23

9,710 7,959

First L added Black Sabbath Doom metal, Blues-rock, Power metal

24

9,603 7,835

First L added The Beach Boys Pop music, Rock music, Psychedelic pop

25

10,595 6,856

First L added Eminem Hip hop music, Horrorcore, Hardcore hip hop

26

9,132 8,061

First L added The Police New Wave, 2 Tone, Ska punk

27

9,974 8,004

Eagles Country pop, Rock music, Folk rock

28

10,478 7,692

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Opera, Ballet, Art song

29

9,968 7,941

John Lennon Blues-rock, Pop music, Rock music

30

9,171 8,186

First L added Rush Progressive metal, Rock music, Heavy metal

31

9,830 6,768

Paul McCartney Pop music, Rock music, Experimental rock

32

9,827 7,674

Creedence Clearwater Revival Blues-rock, Blue-eyed soul, Swamp pop

33

9,900 7,691

First L added Johnny Cash Outlaw country, Christian music, Americana

34

9,764 7,361

First L added Bob Marley Reggae

35

8,912 7,915

First L added Neil Young Rock music, Experimental rock, Grunge

36

9,608 7,596

Frank Sinatra Swing music, Traditional pop music, Big band

37

8,722 8,253

SethLangley added Dire Straits Celtic rock, Blues-rock, Rock music

38

9,579 7,662

Metallica Thrash metal, Rock music, Heavy metal

39

8,672 7,640

First L added Genesis Rock music, Pop rock, Soft rock

40

8,912 7,071

First L added Bruce Springsteen Americana, Blues-rock, Heartland rock

41

10,179 7,896

First L added Madonna Pop music, Rock music, Electronic music

42

8,939 7,444

First L added Lynyrd Skynyrd Outlaw country, Blues-rock, Boogie rock

43

9,154 7,077

First L added Red Hot Chili Peppers Classic rock, Jazz-funk, Rock music

44

9,308 6,622

First L added Stevie Wonder Motown Sound, Psychedelic soul, Pop music

45

8,914 7,986

First L added Radiohead Rock music, Electronic music, New Prog

46

8,890 7,202

EricLeguenec added Abba Synthpop, Disco, Pop music

47

8,828 6,827

First L added Journey Rock music, Jazz fusion, Pop rock

48

9,098 6,685

First L added Guns N' Roses Glam metal, Blues-rock, Rock music

49

9,270 6,292

Eric Clapton Blues-rock, Rock music, Reggae

50

8,925 6,849

First L added Billy Joel Blue-eyed soul, Pop music, Rock music