I admit it's tough to make a list like this but here it is.

Lee Scratch Perry

99

Curtis Mayfield

98

Roxy Music

97

The Supremes

96

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

95

Lynyrd Skynyrd

94

Nine Inch Nails

93

Booker T. & The M.G.'s

92

Guns N' Roses

91

Rick Nelson

90

Carlos Santana

89

The Yardbirds

88

Miles Davis

87

Gram Parsons

86

Tupac Shakur

85

Black Sabbath

84

James Taylor

83

N.W.A

82

Eminem

81

The Drifters

80

Elvis Costello

79

Four Tops

78

The Stooges

77

Beastie Boys

76

The Shirelles

75

The Eagles

74

Hank Williams

73

Radiohead

72

AC/DC

71

Frank Zappa

70

The Police

69

Carl Perkins

68

Jackie Wilson

67

The Temptations

66

Cream

65

Al Green

64

The Kinks

63

Various Artists - Producers - Phil Spector

62

Etta James

61

Tina Turner

60

Joni Mitchell

59

Louis Jordan

58

Sex Pistols

57

Aerosmith

56

Parliament

55

Grateful Dead

54

Dr. Dre

53

Eric Clapton

52

The Allman Brothers Band

51

Howlin' Wolf

50

The Band

49

Elton John

48

Run-D.M.C.

47

Patti Smith

46

Janis Joplin

45

The Byrds

44

Public Enemy

43

Sly and the Family Stone

42

Van Morrison

41

The Doors

40

Simon and Garfunkel

39

David Bowie

38

John Lennon

37

Roy Orbison

36

Madonna

35

Michael Jackson

34

Neil Young

33

The Everly Brothers

32

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

31

Johnny Cash

30

The Clash

29

The Who

28

Prince

27

Nirvana

26

Ramones

25

Fats Domino

24

Jerry Lee Lewis

23

Bruce Springsteen

22

U2

21

Otis Redding

20

Bo Diddley

19

The Velvet Underground

18

Marvin Gaye

17

Muddy Waters

16

Sam Cooke

15

Stevie Wonder

14

Led Zeppelin

13

Buddy Holly

12

The Beach Boys

11

Bob Marley

10

Ray Charles

9

Aretha Franklin

8

Little Richard

7

James Brown

6

Jimi Hendrix

5

Chuck Berry

4

The Rolling Stones

3

Elvis Presley

2

Bob Dylan

1

The Beatles


First of all, why is Madonna so high, why is Joni Mitchell so low, and why did Pink Floyd and B.B. King not make this list, being as influencial as they are?

David Bowie at 39???

It's a "Rolling Stone" list, it's worthless by default.

surely you're not going to disagree with the impact and influence- whether with the music directly or via other medium attached to the music- that most of those acts enjoyed?

Madge usually fares decently in lists of this kind.

This list isn't new- the first 50 were announced early in the year (or in 2004, don't remember), and then the second 50 came thereafter.

I must say, that ever since I laid sight on this list I have been gravely baffled by Pink Floyd's absence, and Madonna's presence in the top 50. Madonna couldn't compile something like Dark Side of the Moon if her life depended on it!

that's whay she crafted something like Like a Prayer, Ray of Light, etc. which are EXCELLENT recordings. She always fares well in these things, not just because of the music, but also the impact she's had on the medium, entertainment, the culture, etc. etc.

Madonna should not be more praised for her music than should pink floyd be for their's.

it's not just about the music. Impact/influence in other areas- coupled with the music- often give some advantage over others.