WFMU Top Artists

Below is a graph of the roughly 300 top artists by total tracks played on WFMU across all WFMU playlists available on the site.

While there’s high representation from ‘classic-rock’ artists things start to get more diverse the further down you go.

Included at the bottom is a version of the spreadsheet used in preparing this.

Back to main WFMU project site

 

 

 

Google Spreadsheet of the File Used for this Chart

 

Artist
Track Counts
David Bowie1534
The Fall1200
Bob Dylan1096
Ennio Morricone999
Sun Ra977
Can948
The Necks941
Wire879
Yo La Tengo865
The Kinks864
Neil Young844
The Beatles784
James Last775
Pink Floyd770
Nina Simone750
Brian Eno737
Prince734
Sonic Youth719
James Brown702
The Rolling Stones699
Silver Quintette695
Lee Morgan649
Sparks646
Fleetwood Mac630
The Beach Boys614
Johnny Cash593
Tom Waits565
Black Sabbath556
Alice Cooper548
Kraftwerk548
The Who546
John Fahey540
Miles Davis534
John Cale532
Various520
The Monkees511
Moondog499
Sun City Girls494
Ramones491
Circle483
Stereolab481
Robert Wyatt480
Big Star479
Pere Ubu471
Devo453
Broadcast444
R. Stevie Moore443
Scott Walker443
Nurse With Wound441
The Clash436
Mercyful Fate435
The Velvet Underground434
The Residents432
Rolling Stones431
Faust430
Big Blood429
Caetano Veloso428
Love421
Bee Gees418
Deerhoof418
Beastie Boys414
Donovan414
Leonard Cohen413
T. Rex410
Funkadelic402
Lou Reed402
People Like Us402
Elvis Presley396
Roxy Music395
Oneida392
Voivod392
Petula Clark390
Matmos388
Chuck Berry382
Robyn Hitchcock381
Kate Bush380
Nanase Hikaru370
Grateful Dead369
Six Organs of Admittance369
Fabio Frizzi & Giorgio Tucci367
Velvet Underground367
Beach Boys365
Nick Drake365
Jack Rose363
Hawkwind361
Chuck Edwards357
Led Zeppelin355
Fairport Convention352
XTC351
Harry Nilsson350
Piero Umiliani347
Serge Gainsbourg345
Talking Heads343
Arthur Russell341
Melvins341
The Ex340
Negativland339
Dusty Springfield337
Syd Barrett333
George Jones332
Alice Coltrane331
Stevie Wonder326
The Clean326
Guided By Voices324
Suicide324
Cocteau Twins323
Tangerine Dream322
Clinic321
The Cramps319
ESG315
Barbara Morgenstern314
Bo Diddley312
Felix Kubin308
Swans308
Cheap Trick305
Lee Hazlewood305
Thee Oh Sees305
Thin Lizzy305
Wooden Shjips303
Radiohead302
Scientists302
John Coltrane301
White Hills301
The Byrds299
Nico297
AC/DC296
Joy Division296
Reggae Schoolroom296
Four Tet294
Beck293
Grachan Moncur III293
Animal Collective292
Chrome292
King Crimson292
Mighty Sparrow292
Television292
Irma Thomas291
Charles Mingus290
LCD Soundsystem290
Terry Riley290
Yoko Ono285
Richard Youngs284
PJ Harvey283
Dolly Parton280
Kevin Ayers280
Curtis Mayfield279
Bjork275
Michael Chapman275
Brother JT274
Flipper273
Iggy Pop273
Gal Costa272
De La Soul271
Nick Lowe271
Bert Jansch270
Ergo Phizmiz270
Potterhouse270
Buzzcocks269
Jefferson Airplane269
Joe Bataan269
Marvin Gaye269
Ron Ayres269
Aretha Franklin268
Booker T. & The MGs268
Ween267
Raymond Scott266
My Bloody Valentine265
Blondie264
Francoise Hardy264
Air263
Merle Haggard263
Glen Campbell262
Ty Segall262
Neil Diamond259
Tim Buckley259
Lalo Schifrin258
Ed Shepp257
Ken's Last Ever Radio Extravaganza257
OOIOO257
Sir Richard Bishop256
The Move256
Devendra Banhart255
Otis Redding255
Syl Johnson255
Townes Van Zandt255
Alex Chilton254
Juana Molina254
Ornette Coleman254
Pierre Henry254
Willie Nelson254
John Cage253
Pram253
Queen251
The Feelies249
Colleen248
Throbbing Gristle248
Goblin247
Roscoe Mitchell246
Beatles245
The Ramones244
Gas243
Dudu Pukwana & Spear242
Jimi Hendrix242
Venetian Snares242
John Zorn240
Public Enemy240
Os Mutantes239
The Turtles239
ABBA238
Bruce Springsteen238
The Replacements238
Pierre Bastien237
Ray Charles237
Dan Deacon236
Moon Duo236
The Stooges236
Captain Beefheart235
Coil235
Electric Light Orchestra235
Reigning Sound235
The Cure235
Wanda Jackson235
Neu!234
Pharoah Sanders234
Swell Maps234
Cabaret Voltaire233
Half Japanese233
Kurt Vile233
Michael Hurley233
Frank Sinatra232
Sir Douglas Quintet232
Hank Williams231
Lord Kitchener230
Motorhead229
Donna Summer228
M.I.A.228
Vetiver228
Aphex Twin227
Elvis Costello227
George Harrison227
Stereo Total227
Amanda225
Killing Joke225
Kim Fowley225
Skullflower225
The Everly Brothers225
Camera Obscura224
Duke Ellington224
Al Green223
Peggy Lee223
Current 93221
Lizzy Mercier Descloux221
Paul McCartney221
Sun Araw221
Albert Ayler220
Butthole Surfers219
Gang of Four219
The Moody Blues219
Deep Purple218
Public Image Ltd.218
Steely Dan218
Van Morrison218
Silver Apples217
Tom Recchion217
U.S. Girls217
Frank Zappa216
Dengue Fever215
Etta James215
Mose Allison215
Mott The Hoople215
Brigitte Fontaine214
Elton John214
Jonathan Richman213
Richard Thompson213
Herbie Hancock212
The Modern Lovers212
DJ Shadow211
Francis Bebey211
Mia Doi Todd211
New Order211
The Smiths211
Vashti Bunyan211
Cal Tjader210
Karen Dalton210
Mouse on Mars210
Tipsy210
Dead Moon209
Les Baxter209
Magnetic Fields209
Nirvana209
Yximalloo209
Don Cherry208
Loretta Lynn208
Calexico206
Television Personalities206
A Tribe Called Quest205
Dr. John205
Jorge Ben205
The Zombies205
Woods205
Zola Jesus205
Conrad Schnitzler204
John Barry204
Quintron204
Black Dice203
Gabor Szabo203
Nancy Sinatra203
R.E.M.203
Run DMC203
The Staple Singers203
Todd Rundgren203
Psychic TV202
The Books202
The Clientele202
Archie Shepp201
DJ Female Convict Scorpion201
Kid Koala201
Marissa Nadler201
Sensational Nightingales201
Bardo Pond200
Bridget St. John200
Family Fodder200
France Gall200
Cluster199
Howlin' Wolf199
James Blackshaw199
Blues Control198
Daniel Johnston198
Shuggie Otis198
Slade198
Eno197
Sharon Van Etten197
Harmonia196
Link Wray196
Spacemen 3196
Cat Power195
Jandek195
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds195
The Lovin' Spoonful195
Volcano the Bear195
Dan Melchior194
Henry Mancini194
Pavement194
Yusef Lateef194
Tom Jones193
Henry Flynt192
Joanna Newsom192
The Hollies192
The Jam192
Go Home Productions191
Incredible String Band191
Joni Mitchell191
Marianne Faithfull191
Sic Alps191
Isaac Hayes190
Killdozer190
Lee Dorsey190
Messer Chups190
Roy Orbison190
Tuxedomoon190
Liquid Liquid189
Martin Denny189
Noonday Underground189
The Slits189
This Heat189
Vibracathedral Orchestra188
Barbara Lynn187
Black Flag187
Ike & Tina Turner187
Robbie Basho187
Josephine Foster186
Luna186
Redd Kross186
Art Ensemble of Chicago185
Bene Gesserit185
Betty Davis185
Genesis185
Klimperei185
Laura Cantrell185
Low185
MV & EE185
Orange Juice185
The Equals185
The Stranglers185
Tom Ze185
Bonnie "Prince" Billy184
Julian Cope184
Klaus Nomi184
Laurie Anderson184
Meat Puppets184
Fred Frith183
The Chills183
Bauhaus182
Ghost182
Minutemen182
Popol Vuh182
Rhys Chatham182
Destroy All Monsters181
Fats Domino181
Gene Clark181
Jonathan Kane181
Kiss181
Chet Atkins180
Dungen180
Meg Baird180
Aphrodite's Child179
Blossom Dearie178
Bruce Haack178
Ignatz178
Kelley Stoltz178
Pauline Oliveros178
Petra Haden178
Robert Ashley178
Roy Harper178
Wreckless Eric178
Belle & Sebastian177
Cornelius177
Ivor Cutler177
Mudhoney177
Satanicpornocultshop177
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings177
Soft Machine177
Boredoms176
Gil Scott-Heron176
Gilberto Gil176
Little Richard176
Boris175
Camper Van Beethoven175
J Dilla175
Luc Ferrari175
Sly & The Family Stone175
Unknown Artist175
Daniel Bachman174
Magazine174
The Wedding Present174
Flamin' Groovies173
Joe Tex173
John Lennon173
Mastodon173
Purling Hiss173
ZZ Top173
Billie Holiday172
Giorgio Moroder172
P.G. Six172
The Frogs172
Thelonious Monk172
Trouble172
Gary Wilson171
Lightning Bolt171
Times New Viking171
Wilco171
Don Felder170
The Bran Flakes170
The Meters170
Wolf Eyes170
Andre Williams169
Buck Owens169
Flaming Fire169
Gong169
Grouper169
Sightings169
Steinski169
Yann Tomita169
Dave Edmunds168
Gang Starr168
Mike Cooper168
The Bats168
The Dirtbombs168
The Shangri-Las168
Annette Peacock167
Del Shannon167
Der Plan167
Steve Reich167
Them167
Bad Brains166
Bernard Parmegiani166
Boards of Canada166
King Diamond166
Love Is All166
Parliament166
Sandy Bull166
Creedence Clearwater Revival165
Major Stars165
the dB's165
The Family Vibes165
Espers164
Saint Etienne164
X-Ray Spex164
Endless Boogie163
Fennesz163
Muslimgauze163
Philip Glass163
Randy Newman163
The Troggs163
Young Marble Giants163
10cc162
Bodega Pop162
Death162
Einsturzende Neubauten162
Holly Golightly162
Jackie DeShannon162
MC5162
Patti Smith162
Simpsons Time!162
Waylon Jennings162
Dead Kennedys161
Horace Andy161
Jerry Goldsmith161
Lulu161
Mission of Burma161
Mum161
My Dying Bride161
Neko Case161
El-P160
Judas Priest160
Lesley Gore160
Mekons160
Stranglers160
The Doors160
Akron/Family159
Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band159
Ken Nordine159
Laibach159
Augustus Pablo158
Dionne Warwick158
Michael Jackson158
Sloan158
Bobbie Gentry157
Dennis Brown157
John Lee Hooker157
Mazzy Star157
Prefuse 73157
Roky Erickson157
Screamin' Jay Hawkins157
Sweet157
The Men157
Biz Markie156
Glenn Jones156
Goldfrapp156
Muddy Waters156
Panda Bear156
Pylon156
Ray Barretto156
Rotary Connection156
Shirley Collins156
Skeeter Davis156
The Damned156
Yma Sumac156
Allen Toussaint155
Anthony Braxton155
Belle and Sebastian155
Bill Withers155
Dion155
John Carpenter155
Ken155
Lush155
Nino Rota155
Nite Jewel155
Tito Puente155
Candlemass154
Evolution Control Committee154
Fountains of Wayne154
Liars154
Merzbow154
Small Faces154
Superchunk154
Teenage Fanclub154
Uncle Michael154
Ananda Shankar153
Delta 5153
Eddie Bo153
Spaceheads153
13th Floor Elevators152
Edan152
Galaxie 500152
Kinks152
Kuupuu152
Peter Walker152
Portishead152
Tall Dwarfs152
Terry Reid152
The Sonics152
The Supremes152
Kaleidoscope151
Kid 606151
RJD2151
Fugazi150
Jim O'Rourke150
Omar Souleyman150
Angel Olsen149
Badfinger149
Bill Orcutt149
Electrelane149
Elend149
Growing149
Jerry Lee Lewis149
Sandy Denny149
The Coasters149
Alvarius B148
Ducktails148
Hans Reichel148
Jesse Krakow148
Earth147
Siouxsie & The Banshees147
The Mekons147
Various Artists147
Andrew Bird146
Millie Jackson146
Noveller146
Slim Harpo146
Charalambides145
Ladytron145
Laura Veirs145
Patsy Cline145
Roland P. Young145
The Birthday Massacre145
Barry Adamson144
Bill Fay144
Catrina Paslaru144
Game Theory144
Gen Ken Montgomery144
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci144
Islaja144
Rufus Harley144
Brian Jonestown Massacre143
Hasil Adkins143
Jozef Van Wissem143
Laura Nyro143
Meredith Monk143
Slapp Happy143
The Band143
Barrence Whitfield & the Savages142
Expo 70142
Julianna Barwick142
Kemialliset Ystavat142
Kris Kristofferson142
Olivia Newton-John142
The Seeds142
The Specials142
Van Dyke Parks142
Cecil Taylor141
Christian Marclay141
Dump141
Emperor Penguin141
Gary Numan141
Lambchop141
The Isley Brothers141
Tyvek141
Bush Tetras140
Dinah Washington140
Dokaka140
ELO140
Gigawipf140
Madlib140
Miriam140
Mochipet140
The Magnetic Fields140
The Out-Theme140
The Pastels140
Yes140
Guru Guru139
Melt-Banana139
Spectrum139
The Free Design139
Erkin Koray138
Fran?â?ºoise Hardy138
harry harrison138
Heldon138
Larkin Grimm138
Marco Benevento138
Patrick Cowley138
X-Ray Pop138
Blank Dogs137
Bob Hund137
Cat Stevens137
Deerhunter137
Flying Lotus137
Jackie-O Motherfucker137
Lou Rawls137
Rahsaan Roland Kirk137
Ultimate Painting137
Arthur Alexander136
Bill Frisell136
Black Lips136
Lau Nau136
Misfits136
Neil Young & Crazy Horse136
NRBQ136
Parquet Courts136
Solomon Burke136
Squarepusher136
Steve Gunn136
The Caretaker136
The Raincoats136
Tricky136
White Magic136
A Certain Ratio135
Bonzo Dog Band135
Buffalo Springfield135
East River Pipe135
Excepter135
Finally Punk135
Iannis Xenakis135
Spiritualized135
The B-52's135
Asmus Tietchens134
Gwilly Edmondez134
Joe Jackson134
Konono No. 1134
Om134
Pulse Emitter134
The Association134
The New Pornographers134
The Rebel134
Tommy Roe134
Charles Bradley133
Courtney Barnett133
Jacques Dutronc133
John Oswald133
Lucinda Williams133
Nas133
Pole133
Roger Miller133
Shoes133
The Easybeats133
The Left Banke133
The Pretty Things133
Boom Bip132
Echo & The Bunnymen132
Fats Waller132
Foetus132
Julia Holter132
Mark McGuire132
Pascal Comelade132
Shonen Knife132
The Mantles132
Wing132
Ariel Kalma131
Colin Newman131
Comets on Fire131
Edgar Broughton Band131
Fucked Up131
Grace Jones131
Harvey Milk131
Jennifer Gentle131
Porter Wagoner131
Roy Montgomery131
Shocking Blue131
African Head Charge130
Chris Watson130
Crystal Stilts130
Lonnie Holley130
RIAA130
Simply Saucer130
Slayer130
The Mountain Goats130
Amon Tobin129
Blue Cheer129
Brainticket129
Louis Armstrong129
Peaking Lights129
Sly and the Family Stone129
Spirit129
They Might Be Giants129
Tonetta129
Twink129
Wiley129
Angel Witch128
Arto Lindsay128
Bow Wow Wow128
Dirty Beaches128
Fursaxa128
Husker Du128
Magma128
Marcos Valle128
Paul Revere & The Raiders128
Prince Rama128
Rasputina128
Suzi Quatro128
Swamp Dogg128
The Guess Who128
William Tyler128
Betty Harris127
Charlie Feathers127
Citay127
Destroyer127
Esquivel127
Gillian Welch127
Monkees127
The Monochrome Set127
Wilson Pickett127
Blonde Redhead126
Candi Staton126
Chris Knox126
CocoRosie126
Giant Sand126
King Tubby126
Lucky Dragons126
Prince Buster126
Protomartyr126
Soundtrack126
Tod Dockstader126
Amen Dunes125
Caribou125
Cromagnon125
doug gillard125
Doug Sahm125
Eternal Tapestry125
Glass Candy125
Harry Partch125
Jaap Blonk125
LSD March125
Marty Robbins125
Obnox125
Pretty Things125
Tape125
The Bee Gees125
The Knife125
The Temptations125
Tindersticks125
39 Clocks124
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti124
Crash Course In Science124
Dan Melchior Und Das Menace124
Don Bikoff124
Hot Chocolate124
Lame Drivers124
Spoon124
The Saints124
William Basinski124
Aesop Rock123
Depeche Mode123
Django Reinhardt123
Dum Dum Girls123
People Like Us & Ergo Phizmiz123
Rufus Thomas123
Sandie Shaw123
Spectre Folk123
The Flying Lizards123
The Raspberries123
Van Halen123
Burning Star Core122
El Perro Del Mar122
Home Blitz122
Honey Radar122
Mogwai122
Staple Singers122
Sudden Infant122
Tinariwen122
World Standard122
Bobby Womack121
Cleaners from Venus121
Dorothy Ashby121
Jay Reatard121
Sun Dial121
The Jesus and Mary Chain121
Vivian Girls121
Blanketship120
Mot?â??rhead120
Xiu Xiu120
Dave Van Ronk119
Electric Six119
F/i119
Glenn Branca119
Group Doueh119
Jason Forrest119
New York Dolls119
Pissed Jeans119
Samara Lubelski119
Spray Paint119
Susumu Yokota119
The Impressions119
The Ventures119
Blockhead118
Daedelus118
Eartha Kitt118
Elf Power118
Focus118
Herman's Hermits118
Jon Hassell118
Momus118
Pumice118
Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso U.F.O.117
Ashtray Navigations117
Betty Wright117
Bettye Lavette117
Cher117
Daniel Menche117
David Garland117
His Name Is Alive117
Johnny Paycheck117
Karlheinz Stockhausen117
Magik Markers117
Marisa Anderson117
Pet Shop Boys117
Roger Roger117
Sonny Sharrock117
The Flamin' Groovies117
The Vaselines117
Witch117
Yellow Magic Orchestra117
Chris Forsyth116
Ella Fitzgerald116
Elysian Fields116
Laurie Spiegel116
LL Cool J116
Nevermore116
Porest116
Sammy Davis Jr.116
Alog115
Autechre115
Eagles of Death Metal115
Gang Gang Dance115
High On Fire115
Hugh Masekela115
James Pants115
Madonna115
Outrageous Cherry115
Psychic Ills115
The Above115
The Muffs115
The Ronettes115
Andrew Pekler114
Dead Can Dance114
Diane Cluck114
Emeralds114
Fred Neil114
Jean-Jacques Perrey114
John Holt114
Kinski114
Legendary Pink Dots114
Paradise Lost114
Percy Faith114
Pulp114
Quincy Jones114
Rocket From the Tombs114
Vangelis114
Abner Jay113
Comet Gain113
Dead C113
Dean Martin113
John Schnall113
Phil Kraus113
Rascal Reporters113
Scientist113
Selda113
Swan Silvertones113
The Breeders113
The Soft Boys113
Wizz Jones113
bare wires112
Cut Chemist112
Dirtbombs112
HUMAN FLESH112
Lee Ranaldo112
Leo Kottke112
Linda Perhacs112
Marc Ribot112
Nots112
Olivia Tremor Control112
Pink Reason112
Simon Mathewson112
Stock Hausen & Walkman112
Suzanne Ciani112
The Pop Group112
Thomas Brinkmann112
Ultravox112
William Onyeabor112
Alex Battles111
Cave111
Jean-Claude Vannier111
Mary Lou Williams111
Morton Feldman111
Nilsson111
Sebadoh111
Smegma111
Talk Normal111
The Shirelles111
Wu-Tang Clan111
Anne Briggs110
Carole King110
Cheater Slicks110
Dim Dim110
Gelbart110
Hall & Oates110
Isley Brothers110
John Martyn110
Kronos Quartet110
Paris110
Shape of Despair110
Steve Earle110
The Animals110
Throwing Muses110
A Hawk and a Hacksaw109
Anita O'Day109
Basil Kirchin109
Buddy Holly109