Special Report
This Is the Most Popular Band of the Past 10 Years
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Americans who don’t follow popular music may not know that the most popular band of the past 10 years is Imagine Dragons. They also may not know the names of the country’s other more recent popular bands. The most successful bands are the most famous of all time, they assume.
Many of the best-selling bands did begin their runs years ago. Among those that have done the best in terms of album sales are the Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, Eagles, and Pink Floyd. (These are the 50 most popular rock stars of all-time.)
Another reason people assume older bands are wildly successful is that bands that have been around for decades continue to tour. The Rolling Stones have been on the road since the early 1960s. Mick Jagger was born in 1943. (These are the 100 best albums of all time.)
However, the past decade has produced some remarkably successful bands. Rap, indie rock, electronic, country, and all sorts of combinations of these music genres have dominated the charts over the past 10 years.
Big trends included the return of traditional instruments like mandolin and banjo in indie rock by the likes of Mumford and Sons and Vance Joy and the meteoric rise of K-pop and reggaeton on the world stage. Meanwhile, rap music has become the most listened to genre in the United States.
To determine which band has had the most success over the past decade, 24/7 Tempo developed an index based on chart performance, certified album and single sales, monthly Spotify listeners, and Wikipedia pageviews over the period of August 2011 and September 2021.
Many of the musicians we considered got their start in previous decades but had big moments in the past 10 years. Some groups, like Blink-182 and Paramore, have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. Others had a couple massive hit songs that were enough to land them on this list.
Big names like One Direction and the Jonas Brothers had their moment in the sun, but the former is now on indefinite hiatus, and the latter broke up in 2013, before reuniting in 2019 and releasing a song that became their first No. 1 Billboard single.
The most successful band of the past 10 years is Imagine Dragons. Sixteen of the band’s songs spent a total of 446 on the Billboard Hot 100, and their most successful single of the past 10 years is “Radioactive.” Other details include:
Certified unit sales in the past 10 years: 5 million albums, 32 million singles
Monthly Spotify listeners: 39.5 million
Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 3,233
Click here to see the most popular bands of the last 10 years
Methodology:
To determine which band has had the most success over the past decade, 24/7 Tempo developed an index based on chart performance, certified album and single sales, monthly Spotify listeners, and Wikipedia pageviews using data for the period between August 2011 and September 2021.
An inverted ranking of a band’s performance on the Billboard Hot 100 (giving a song at position No. 100 for one week one point, a song at position No. 99 two points, and so on up to a song at position No. 1 100 points) was computed and given full weight. A band’s total certified U.S. album and single sales came from the Recording Industry Association of America and were each given half weight. Average monthly Spotify listener count and daily Wikipedia pageview count came from music data platform Chartmetric and were given full weight. Only bands with at least three songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the past 10 years were included.
40. LMFAO
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 104 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Party Rock Anthem
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, <500k singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 6.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,310
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39. City Girls
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 4 songs, 42 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Act Up
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 4.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 7.6 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,845
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38. Pentatonix
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 4 songs, 22 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Hallelujah
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 4m albums, 3.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 3.3 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,805
37. Florence + The Machine
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 23 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Shake It Out
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, <500k singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 10.5 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,895
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36. Foster The People
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 57 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Pumped Up Kicks
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 2m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 13 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 936
35. Rascal Flatts
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 8 songs, 116 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Easy
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 500k albums, 4.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 7.8 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,038
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34. The Script
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 54 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Hall Of Fame
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 2.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 13.5 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 522
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33. Little Big Town
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 7 songs, 106 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Girl Crush
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2.5m albums, 9.0m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 4.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 810
32. The Black Keys
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 29 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Lonely Boy
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2.5m albums, 3m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 8.4 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 3,592
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31. Gym Class Heroes
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 70 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Stereo Hearts
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 2m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 13.3 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 681
30. X Ambassadors
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 71 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Unsteady
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1m albums, 9m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 10.6 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 380
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29. Blink-182
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 4 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Up All Night
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 500k albums, 500k singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 12.7 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 5,173
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28. AJR
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 5 songs, 71 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Bang!
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 500k albums, 7.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 9.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,396
27. Mumford & Sons
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 9 songs, 73 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: I Will Wait
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 3m albums, 3.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 8.7 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,779
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26. Old Dominion
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 9 songs, 166 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: One Man Band
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1.5m albums, 11m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 5.5 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 369
25. Paramore
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 45 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Ain’t It Fun
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1.5m albums, 5.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 13.1 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,147
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24. Zac Brown Band
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 13 songs, 173 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Knee Deep
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2m albums, 5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 7.5 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,012
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23. Internet Money
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 31 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Lemonade
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 500k albums, 3.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 19.2 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 417
22. Daft Punk
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 85 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Starboy
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1m albums, 4m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 15.6 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 4,191
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21. BLACKPINK
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 6 songs, 11 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Kill This Love
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 500k singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 14.6 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 9,282
20. Train
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 6 songs, 94 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Drive By
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1m albums, 10.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 14.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 984
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19. fun.
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 118 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Some Nights
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 3m albums, 19m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 7.8 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,097
18. Fifth Harmony
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 8 songs, 142 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Work From Home
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2m albums, 12.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 9.4 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,461
17. The Lumineers
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 89 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Ho Hey
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 4m albums, 6.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 12.8 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 869
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16. Little Mix
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 3 songs, 20 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Black Magic
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 1m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 23.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 4,454
15. 5 Seconds Of Summer
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 14 songs, 140 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Youngblood
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 500k albums, 10.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 19.4 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,673
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14. Jonas Brothers
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 7 songs, 124 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Sucker
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1m albums, 6.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 18.0 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 3,706
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13. Linkin Park
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 5 songs, 45 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: In The End
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2.5m albums, 3m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 21.2 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 6,585
12. Fall Out Boy
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 8 songs, 127 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Centuries
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2m albums, 16m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 19.1 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,795
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11. Panic! At The Disco
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 11 songs, 92 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: High Hopes
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 4m albums, 21.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 19.6 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,794
10. Black Eyed Peas
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 5 songs, 64 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Just Can’t Get Enough
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: <500k albums, 2m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 34.3 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,963
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9. BTS
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 21 songs, 90 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Dynamite
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2.5m albums, 6m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 31.0 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,773
8. Dan + Shay
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 11 songs, 259 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Tequila
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 2m albums, 24m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 14.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 3,554
7. Migos
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 42 songs, 348 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Bad And Boujee
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 3m albums, 17m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 20.7 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,299
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6. OneRepublic
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 9 songs, 163 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Counting Stars
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 1m albums, 11.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 32.6 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 2,834
5. Florida Georgia Line
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 24 songs, 510 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Meant To Be
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 4.5m albums, 51.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 13.9 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,182
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4. twenty one pilots
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 11 songs, 159 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Stressed Out
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 7m albums, 45.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 23.1 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 5,297
3. The Chainsmokers
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 17 songs, 291 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Closer
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 4.5m albums, 49.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 30.0 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 1,261
2. One Direction
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 29 songs, 279 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: What Makes You Beautiful
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 12.0m albums, 13.5m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 25.1 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 6,314
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1. Imagine Dragons
> Billboard Hot 100 performance in the last 10 years: 16 songs, 446 weeks
> Most successful single of the last 10 years: Radioactive
> Certified unit sales in the last 10 years: 5m albums, 32m singles
> Monthly Spotify listeners: 39.5 million
> Daily Wikipedia pageviews: 3,233
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