Date: Mon, 18 Nov 2019 20:58:11 -0500
From: <cmathis@brothersgibb.com>
Subject: Billboard Magazine, Greatest artists of all time
http://alturl.com/5ntnj
Billboard Magazine, which is also known as the bible of the music industry,
is now 125 years old. It was founded by William Donaldson and Jame Hennegan
in 1894. Billboard started out as a trade publication for bill posters. You
know stuff like handouts and fliers announcing events but later on became an
entertainment magazine covering all types like concerts and circuses.
As popular music grew in popularity during the 1900s, Billboard turned more
and more into a trade magazine covering music events, hit songs and industry
news. Back then, these were mostly found in musical shows, concerts, sales
of music sheets and eventually phonograph records.
I do not know who came up with the idea for hit charts. I guess it all
started with the rock era, a time during the late '50s when record sales
increased prodigiously. This was thanks to the arrival of music idols like
Elvis Presley, whose fans sent his record sales zooming up to an all-time
high. So, to get a better look at the market, Billboard started getting the
weekly sales figures from outlets and then coming out with the bestsellers'
list based on the reports.
Officially, the Hot 100, the hit list of top-selling singles of the week was
inaugurated on Aug. 4, 1958. The first No. 1 song was Poor Little Fool by a
17-year-old Ricky Nelson. The first Top 200 Albums chart, the one which
lists down the biggest-selling albums of the week, came along on Aug. 17,
1963. The No. 1 selling album of the year was the soundtrack of the motion
picture adaptation of the musical Bye Bye Birdie, starring Dick Van Dyke,
Janet Leigh and Ann Margret.
With technological advances in the ensuing years, the Billboard charts grew
in accuracy and popularity all over the world. An artist's success soon
came to be measured by the presence of his record releases in the hit lists.
This remains so until today when the weekly lists are much awaited arrivals
among music industry people worldwide.
This year to celebrate its 125th anniversary, Billboard came up with its
list of the 125 greatest artists of all time, based, of course, on the way
their recordings charted in the Hot 100 and the Top 200 Albums lists.
Reading through it is like getting a crash course in the history of popular
music.
No one would be likely to contest the results. Not when Billboard has The
Beatles, with 20 No. 1 singles and 19 No. 1 albums leading the pack.
Following are The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Mariah Carey and Madonna
completing the Top 5. I must say that Taylor Swift and Drake must be tickled
pink that although of fairly recent times, they made the Top 10 of the list.
Here they are. The 125 greatest artists of all time.
The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Barbra
Streisand, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Whitney
Houston, Paul McCartney, Elvis Presley, Janet Jackson, Rod Stewart, Drake,
Prince, Rihanna, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks.
Herb Alpert, Eminem, Usher, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, The Supremes,
Eagles, Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, Santana, The Temptations,
Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Adele, Beyoncé, Eric
Clapton, Lionel Richie, Led Zeppelin.
Bruno Mars, John Denver, Maroon 5, Olivia Newton-John, Bon Jovi, Phil
Collins, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp, JAY-Z, Donna Summer,
Nickelback, BoyZ II Men, Carpenters, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Foreigner,
Britney Spears, Pink, Alicia Keys.
Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, The Jacksons, Earth, Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, U2,
Linda Ronstadt, Van Halen, Bob Seger, Aerosmith, The Black Eyed Peas, Nelly,
Carole King, Justin Timberlake, The Monkees, Kenny Rogers, Heart, Tim
McGraw, Barry Manilow, R. Kelly.
Journey, Simon & Garfunkel, Michael Bolton, Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson, Pink
Floyd, Queen, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Three Dog Night, Commodores, Paula
Abdul, Bryan Adams, Chris Brown, Guns N' Roses, Dep Leppard, Huey Lewis &
The News, Linkin Park, James Taylor, Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, Paul Simon, Backstreet Boys, Lil Wayne,
Carrie Underwood, Andy Williams, Styx, George Michael, Cher, TLC, Shania
Twain, The Doobie Brothers, The 4 Seasons, Peter, Paul & Mary, Kenny
Chesney, Destiny's Child, 50 Cent, Ray Charles, Genesis, The Police.
Rascal Flatts, Ludacris, Gloria Estefan, George Harrison and Alan Jackson.
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End Words@brothersgibb.com message digest 11/18/2019 21:01 (#2019-1196)