Okay, so yesterday I posted the Chris Doelle’s 2017 Top Songs and will follow-up now with the artists themselves.

These are the 2017 Top Artists according to me:

Rank – Artist – plays (change from last year)

  1. Train – 217 plays (+1 spot)
  2. Chris Stapleton – 126 plays (+2)
  3. P!nk -116 plays (+4)
  4. Rod Stewart – 114 plays (+5)
  5. Chuck Berry – 99 plays (NR)
  6. Keith Urban – 78 plays (-3)
  7. Billy Currington – 78 plays (+3)
  8. Andy Grammar – 75 plays (NR)
  9. Roger Miller – 75 plays (+2)
  10. Maroon 5 – 74 plays (-9)
  11. Tim McGraw – 70 plays (+5)
  12. George Strait – 68 (+1)
  13. Luke Bryan – 66 plays (NR)
  14. Queen – 64 plays (NR)
  15. Zac Brown Band – 64 plays (-7)
  16. Kenny Chesney – 62 plays (NR)
  17. Billy Joel – 57 plays (-12)
  18. Paul Simon – 53 plays (NR)
  19. Ed Sheeran – 48 plays (NR)
  20. Dierks Bentley – 47 plays (NR)
  21. Prince – 47 plays (NR)
  22. The Beatles – 47 plays (NR)

Interesting facts from 2017

  • It took 10 more plays to make the top 20 this year than last
  • Train is on the list for the sixth straight year (#1 for 2012, 2013 and 2017) and they climbed to #4 all-time just ahead of George Strait
  • Maroon 5 dropped from #1 last year to #10 as their plays plummeted
  • After being the highest debuting artist last year at #4, Chris Stapleton climbed up to #2 this time around
  • Chuck Berry made it into the list with 99 plays thanks to a Berry kick I had in the summer. He is the highest ranked artist that wasn’t in last year’s list
  • 10 of the Top 20 were not in last years list – last year that number was 9. This is a bit misleading because 5 of this year’s newcomers were tied for the last spot.
  • After jumping 7 spots last year, Rod Stewart climbed 5 more this year
  • P!nk remains my #1 all-time but continues to slide on a yearly basis. I think this is a result of her changing music being much more political and much less spunky fun.
  • The Zac Brown Band continues to slide in total plays (-2) and ranking (-7)
  • Roger Miller had more plays this year than last and climbed 2 spots
  • After being in the list for three straight years, Johnny Cash dropped out
  • 9 of the top 16 are Country artists – only 1 of the top 3 however
  • 2016 Top Artists
  • 2015 Top Artists
  • 2014 Top Artists
  • 2013 Top Artists
  • 2012 Top Artists
  • 2011 Top Artists
  • 2010 Top Artists

by Chris Doelle