After a messy best of 2014 (here) featuring cool graphics but terrible delays and a ban, I'm back this year with every intention of finishing. This year will follow a similar formula as last year, although with 1 less list.
Top 100 Songs
The chart will follow the exact same formula as last year, based strictly off of iTunes plays. The top 50 overall played songs will comprise the top 50, and the 50 most played songs released or peaking in 2015 (following the top 50) will make up the 51-100 region of the chart.
Top 20 Albums
My top 20 most played albums, regardless of release or peak year.
Top 20 Artists
My most played artists based on iTunes plays.
The tracking year ends tomorrow, after which I'll start posting my lists
Deja Vu. I could have sworn this was posted before.
Anways, should be good.
I posted the banner in the Best Of 2015 thread a few days ago, that could be it?
Anyways, my taste has shifted even more from a pop/alternative mix to more alternative/indie, etc, but there will still be quite a bit of pop for you guys
One of my main faves is #1 on 2/3 charts, but an ATRL fave is #1 on the 3rd chart
the charts have been created, stats have been counted, and it's about time to start the countdown. I'll have to warn this will be happening pretty sporadically, as I work 11 hour shifts some days and have other days completely to myself, spend entire days with my boyfriend and others with extra time to kill, etc. There's a few major changes to my listening habits this year as well, and there's two in particular I'd like to highlight.
The Fall of Katy Perry
Since I first started stanning Katy with the release of California Gurls in 2010 she's constantly remained at the top of my yearly charts. She's been my most played artist every year since 2010, and has had my top played song every year until 2014 (California Gurls in 2010, The One That Got Away in 2011, Part of Me in 2012, and Roar in 2013. Dark Horse was #2 in 2014, and with remix plays added actually tied for #1). This year will be drastically different. With no album release or rerelease since 2013, multiple other acts rose above her in the artists and album charts, and she's nowhere to be found in the top few dozen spots on the year end chart.
The Rise of Alternative/Folk
I've always been a huge fan of alternative music, with the genre being almost equal in plays to pop the past two years. In 2015 alternative rock/indie music shot above pop's plays by almost two times, and for the first time ever folk music made a sizable impact on my listening habits. Pop injected alternative acts such as Imagine Dragons and twenty one pilots dominated almost every aspect of the charts, while folk leaning acts such as Lord Huron and Sufjan Stevens made huge debuts. Country music, spearheaded by the likes of Kacey Musgraves also surged, with total number of country tracks tripling, and plays more than doubling.
THE STATS
Track Count: 2,218 (up 42% from 2014)
Play Count: 11,195 (up less than 1% from 2014)
Total Time of Songs in Library: 5.8 days (up 42% from 2014)
Total Play Time: 4.1 weeks (up less than 1% from 2014)
Artist Count: 395 (up 27% from 2014)
Genre Count: 15 (down 55% from 2014) (I consolidated genres this year)
Plays/Song: 5 (down 43% from 2014)
Genres (Plays)
Alternative (encompasses indie, folk, alternative rock, & alternative pop): 5,562 (up 47% from 2014)
Pop: 2,957 (down 34% from 2014)
Country: 1,122 (up 32% from 2014)
Hip Hop: 577 (down 46% from 2014)
Rock (encompasses some alternative rock and harder rock genres): 403 (up 31% from 2014)
Dance: 256 (down 32% from 2014)
R&B/Soul: 172 (down 49% from 2014)
And just for fun, here's the top 3 artists with the most entries on the top 100 songs list
1. Imagine Dragons - 16
2. twenty one pilots - 14
3. Kacey Musgraves - 13
No other artists had more than 5 songs each on the list, but these 3 alone comprised 43% of the list.
Little Big Town hit the country world full force with their oft misunderstood retro country ballad "Girl Crush". The song was a refreshing change of pace for country radio, and fared extremely well on the Hot 100.
There are 0 Little Big Town songs left on the countdown
99. Demi Lovato - Confident
Say what you want about Demi's 2015 reinvention, but this headbanging bop was one of the best pop jams of the year. Just proof that talent always wins. I've run around my apartment singing this at the top of my lungs more than I'm willing to admit.
There is 1 Demi Lovato song left on the countdown
98. Trampled By Turtles - Silver Light
I found this band and album just about two months ago, but Silver Light has been one of my anthems this last part of the year and therefore made it to the lower part of the list. The understated folk ballad is probably the best on the bluegrass/folk album, but the entire thing is worth a listen if you like this sound.