In case you were curious to know which are the 10 most popular music artists/groups globally right now here is the answer,

https://variety.com/2022/music/news/bts-worlds-top-artist-ifpi-2021-report-1235211531/


BTS
Taylor Swift
Adele
Drake
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Billie Eilish
Justin Bieber
Seventeen
Olivia Rodrigo

I had to Google 5 of them.

I wouldn't listen to any of them and I know it's an age/preference thing. I'm happier back in the 70's & 80's.

From the same article: this section REALLY fascinated me!


And, for good measure, the top-selling vinyl titles across the world were:

Adele “30” (862,000 global units)
Harry Styles “Fine Line” (397,000)
Fleetwood Mac “Rumours” (346,000)
Olivia Rodrigo “Sour” (339,000)
Billie Eilish “Happier Than Ever” (335,000)
Taylor Swift “Red (Taylor’s Version)” (325,000)
The Beatles “Abbey Road” (283,000)
Nirvana “Nevermind” (274,000)
Pink Floyd “Drk Side of the Moon” (272,000)
Taylor Swift “Evermore” (270,000)


I know vinyl only accounts for a tiny segment of the overall music market but I find it inspiring how albums like Abbey Road and Dark Side are still selling and especially on vinyl!

I would be curious to see that list compared to the highest number of concert ticket sales of any artist. I remember before COVID, many newer acts were being eclipsed in concert ticket sales by older acts. The only reason I know who most of PM's list is because my kids liked some of them.

A lot of legacy bands do really well on the concert circuit specifically because their fans come to listen to their old classic hit songs while at the same time they couldn't care less about their new stuff. A great example of this is Madonna. Pre-COVID she almost always had sold out concerts while at the same time her last 3 or 4 albums went nowhere commercially.

Adele can sing, I'll give her that. Billie Eilish sings every song like she is od'ing on xanax. The rest of them I know none of their songs, even the Canadian ones. 3 of them I don't even know of.