Music Metrics Vault

Classic rock

Most popular artists in Classic rock

This chart is based on the monthly listeners metric for all artists tagged with the genre classic rock by Spotify. It may contain some errors or some data may not be up to date. You can check the artist profile to update data if necessary.

# Artist Monthly Listeners Followers
1
48,665,174
52,922,924
2
34,490,846
12,719,758
3
33,640,137
6,830,930
4
33,161,662
30,493,518
5
32,621,155
29,381,977
6
30,852,178
33,024,032
7
29,211,311
7,349,029
8
26,606,058
14,968,594
9
24,551,175
5,997,218
10
24,076,753
15,138,118
11
22,128,224
21,554,907
12
20,947,722
8,181,948
13
20,275,302
11,428,370
14
19,577,605
15,164,964
15
15,604,736
5,502,239
16
15,432,704
10,205,980
17
14,273,962
3,478,725
18
13,702,947
8,566,648
19
13,179,654
5,038,035
20
12,901,901
6,208,794
21
12,774,311
3,405,329
22
12,601,703
2,196,671
23
12,387,951
3,584,677
24
11,529,915
6,434,697
25
11,030,248
1,422,568
26
10,430,490
4,649,197
27
10,334,026
2,750,776
28
10,241,633
8,393,844
29
9,734,520
2,862,197
30
9,363,474
2,785,079
31
9,276,143
3,714,915
32
8,760,532
2,667,383
33
8,732,564
1,172,594
34
8,640,446
1,195,551
35
8,486,626
1,723,751
36
7,971,526
2,529,249
37
7,678,506
5,317,351
38
7,554,804
7,052,672
39
7,526,606
5,594,278
40
7,242,591
2,932,075
41
7,201,998
2,637,064
42
6,773,047
2,944,340
43
6,657,006
3,138,660
44
6,583,143
3,174,323
45
6,550,083
1,226,446
46
6,531,164
1,058,149
47
6,463,579
1,932,880
48
6,397,252
5,756,665
49
6,218,225
2,468,171
50
5,968,247
2,378,492
51
5,735,481
2,718,811
52
5,631,086
873,186
53
5,506,310
1,263,839
54
5,332,203
1,650,877
55
5,132,880
1,677,586
56
5,102,971
1,580,218
57
5,031,973
1,702,674
58
4,993,816
1,798,662
59
4,769,862
1,158,478
60
4,694,451
2,493,083
61
4,597,384
1,633,857
62
4,516,723
3,866,555
63
4,503,906
390,639
64
4,346,384
1,578,596
65
4,205,905
1,273,623
66
4,062,509
658,078
67
3,942,037
2,064,047
68
3,875,652
91,975
69
3,754,007
3,492,402
70
3,651,306
1,567,161
71
3,558,676
1,318,510
72
3,525,808
2,431,474
73
3,508,690
1,723,063
74
2,907,106
754,997
75
2,716,499
1,821,487
76
2,647,667
1,060,854
77
2,581,628
1,063,668
78
2,537,755
964,791
79
2,418,854
850,152
80
2,252,891
880,680
81
2,190,731
1,249,134
82
2,098,171
548,978
83
2,031,869
1,316,149
84
2,018,128
936,515
85
2,004,228
1,269,087
86
1,900,919
1,044,277
87
1,885,206
641,895
88
1,781,429
1,280,874
89
1,764,482
1,054,817
90
1,741,159
945,099
91
1,716,112
1,080,563
92
1,699,268
355,866
93
1,662,700
769,027
94
1,619,149
1,309,621
95
Lindsey Buckingham
1,512,203
162,654
96
1,508,006
289,042
97
1,437,653
1,928,507
98
1,288,573
1,134,801
99
1,287,644
324,416
100
1,243,014
453,519
101
1,224,470
902,016
102
1,205,314
1,222,520
103
1,144,157
799,488
104
Manfred Mann
1,108,980
384,283
105
1,086,286
743,069
106
Ringo Starr
958,622
988,845
107
Loggins & Messina
860,943
521,889
108
Herman's Hermits
730,369
503,744
109
Sammy Hagar
713,814
982,245
110
Blind Faith
687,306
427,410
111
Jefferson Starship
682,092
1,057,451
112
James Gang
631,561
384,299
113
Traffic
621,979
617,450
114
Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
602,095
19,907
115
April Wine
502,127
409,992
116
Molly Hatchet
425,093
613,919
117
The Edgar Winter Group
405,989
287,785
118
Triumph
368,377
500,084
119
Blood, Sweat & Tears
360,975
627,588
120
Rick Derringer
250,914
79,126
121
Head East
180,305
179,801
122
My Silent Bravery
63,292
7,944
123
Prism
60,786
26,589
124
City Boy
49,439
9,436
125
Flo & Eddie
45,742
10,331
126
Utopia
31,598
29,599
127
Edgar Winter's White Trash
16,866
21,432
128
Peter Rivera
5,706
523
129
Oliver Reed
3,854
1,314
130
Alison Dowling
1,630
12
131
Keith Moon
1,457
41,334
132
Jack Nicholson
1,338
1,636
133
Gun Hill Road
1,290
242
134
Ēbn-Ōzn
1,151
257
135
The Rubber Bullets
1
18

Some info about classic rock

Classic rock is a music genre that primarily draws on the rock music of the late 1960s and 1970s, typically featuring a harmonious blend of robust electric guitars, forceful drums, and strong vocals. It is a genre rooted deeply in the heart of rock’s golden age, embodying the spirit of an era marked by a cultural shift towards bold musical experiments and lyrical narratives that reflected contemporary social realities.

The genesis of classic rock can be traced back to the mid-1960s through to the late 1970s, a period that witnessed the maturation of the rock genre. Emerging from earlier rock & roll styles, bands began to adopt heavier sounds, more complex compositions, and introspective lyrics. The etymology of "classic rock" began as a radio format in the 1980s, designed to cater to adults who grew up with rock music in the 1960s and 1970s. By this definition, what was once simply contemporary became "classic" due to its endurance and influence on subsequent generations.

Integral to the classic rock genre are iconic bands that not only defined but transcended their time. The Beatles, though primarily associated with the pop and psychedelic rock scenes, played a significant role in laying the groundwork with albums like "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". The Rolling Stones, with their grittier edge, epitomized the blues-infused rock that became a staple of classic rock soundtracks worldwide. Other monumental contributors include Led Zeppelin, whose heavy, guitar-driven sound forged the archetype of hard rock; Pink Floyd, known for their complex compositions and deep lyrical themes; and The Who, which introduced rock opera as a new form of musical expression.

Classic rock found a particularly fervent following in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, where it not only influenced music but also fashion, language, and lifestyle. American bands like Aerosmith and The Eagles contributed their distinctive flair to the genre, as did Australian groups like AC/DC, which added a raw power to the classic rock scene.

The enduring appeal of classic rock is not just in its nostalgia but in its pioneering approach to rock music. It was a time when artists experimented with electronic effects, multi-track recording, and conceptual album formats, pushing the boundaries of what music could represent. Albums were no longer just collections of songs; they were narratives, explorations, and statements.

Throughout its evolution, classic rock has remained a staple on radio stations, in digital streaming playlists, and live concert venues, underscoring its lasting impact on the music industry and on music lovers around the world. Fans continue to celebrate the genre through numerous tribute acts, remastered tracks, and reissued albums, keeping the aged spirit of the '60s and '70s alive.

For contemporary musicians and bands, classic rock acts as both a foundation and an inspiration. Bands such as Greta Van Fleet have captured attention in the modern era for their classic rock reminiscent sound, proving the genre’s adaptability and its capacity to resonate even after decades.

In essence, classic rock encapsulates a significant era in music history. It champions the innovation and the rebellious spirit of rock music. Its legacy, characterized by its depth, diversity, and revolutionary sound, continues to influence and inspire, making it an undying element of global music culture.