[1] The list presented was compiled based on input from musicians, writers, and industry figures and is focused on the rock & roll era.
[1] The publication features comments that several musicians wrote about their colleagues, including Elvis Costello on the Beatles, Janet Jackson on Tina Turner, and others.
In both versions of the list, the top three positions are held by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Presley; rounding out the top ten were (in descending order): the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles.
The updated list also featured artists not present in the original, including Pink Floyd #51, Queen #52, Metallica #61, Creedence Clearwater Revival #82, Jay-Z #88, Tom Petty #91, R.E.M.
The list consists primarily of American or British artists who sold well in America, as well as the following: AC/DC (Australian, with several British-born members), the Band (Canada/US), Bob Marley (Jamaica), Joni Mitchell (Canada), Lee "Scratch" Perry (Jamaica; only in the 2005 list), Carlos Santana (Mexican by birth, naturalized American), U2 (Ireland, with two British-born members), and Neil Young (Canada).