The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

When VH1 polled fellow artists to name the greatest artists of all time, it seemed like a good idea---but in reality, the list was truly flawed. According to them, Coldplay is better than Pearl Jam, Mariah Carey is only greater than six artists, etc! Not to mention other impactful artists were left off of the list. So I thought that maybe we try the countdown one more time, only this time with the perspective of true music fans...YOU..

This list will begin in no particular order, you will see some names that didn't appear in VH1's version, no artist appears on the countdown twice, and the order is not my personal opinion (I personally think Bob Marley is the greatest artist of all time). If you don't like how the list looks, you have the power to change it. This list includes some of the greatest female vocalists of the past 10 years, and many of the best rock bands and artists of all time. Many of them are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - and some will be, eventually.

So many questions will be answered with the voting results on this list. Nirvana or Pearl Jam? 2Pac or Biggie? The Beatles or the Rolling Stones? Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston? Is Michael Jackson still the King or is Elvis the true immortal? Is Madonna still the undisputed Queen of Pop? Does anyone rock harder than Hendrix? Are Jay-Z and Beyonce the most powerful couple in music history? It's up to you to decide!

list ordered by

Popular Opinion The Greatest Musical Artists of All Time

not on the list? add item #2025

List Rules: The best artists of any genre

1 15,085 11,896 First L added The Beatles Pop music, Rock music, Pop rock

2 15,790 10,945 First L added Queen Pop music, Rock music, Heavy metal

3 13,795 11,590 First L added Pink Floyd Rock music, Space rock, Experimental rock

4 14,156 10,308 First L added Led Zeppelin Blues-rock, Classic rock, Rock music

5 12,137 9,673 First L added The Rolling Stones Blues-rock, Rock music, Protopunk

6 14,314 10,692 First L added Michael Jackson Motown Sound, Rock music, Electronic music

7 12,101 9,830 First L added Elvis Presley Christian music, Pop music, Rock music

8 10,715 9,978 First L added The Who Popular music, Pop music, Rock music

9 11,905 8,548 First L added Jimi Hendrix Blues-rock, Rock music, Experimental rock

10 11,679 9,013 First L added David Bowie Rock music, Psychedelic pop, Electronic music

11 10,759 9,293 First L added Bob Dylan Blues-rock, Rock music, Folk music

12 10,953 9,546 First L added AC/DC Blues-rock, Boogie rock, Rock music

13 10,450 8,643 Simon and Garfunkel Pop music, Worldbeat, Rock music

14 10,711 8,417 First L added Elton John Pop music, Rock music, Piano rock

15 10,506 8,562 First L added The Doors Blues-rock, Rock music, Protopunk

16 10,832 8,710 First L added Prince Hip hop music, Synthpop, New Wave

17 9,543 8,601 First L added Aretha Franklin Pop music, Rock music, Rhythm and blues

18 11,545 8,054 Ludwig van Beethoven Opera, Classical music

19 9,530 9,465 First L added U2 Rock music, Alternative rock, Punk rock

20 11,098 8,792 First L added Nirvana Rock music, Grunge, Alternative rock

21 10,092 8,229 First L added Fleetwood Mac Blues-rock, Pop music, Rock music

22 9,311 8,771 First L added Bee Gees Adult contemporary music, Blue-eyed soul, Disco

23 9,841 8,128 First L added The Beach Boys Pop music, Rock music, Psychedelic pop

24 9,951 8,275 First L added Black Sabbath Doom metal, Blues-rock, Power metal

25 10,258 8,255 Eagles Country pop, Rock music, Folk rock

not on the list? add item #2025 List Rules: The best artists of any genre

1
15,085 11,896

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

2
15,790 10,945

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

3
13,795 11,590

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

4
14,156 10,308

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

5
12,137 9,673

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

6
14,314 10,692

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

7
12,101 9,830

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

8
10,715 9,978

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

9
11,905 8,548

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

10
11,679 9,013

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

11
10,759 9,293

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

12
10,953 9,546

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

13
10,450 8,643

Simon and Garfunkel Pop music, Worldbeat, Rock music

14
10,711 8,417

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

15
10,506 8,562

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

16
10,832 8,710

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

17
9,543 8,601

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

18
11,545 8,054

Ludwig van Beethoven Opera, Classical music

19
9,530 9,465

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

20
11,098 8,792

First L added Nirvana Rock music, Grunge, Alternative rock

21
10,092 8,229

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

22
9,311 8,771

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

23
9,841 8,128

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

24
9,951 8,275

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

25
10,258 8,255

Eagles Country pop, Rock music, Folk rock

not on the list? add item #2025

List Rules: The best artists of any genre