1000 songs, 1000 artists (the most important, most recommended artist in music history)

[u/Capital-Scholar4944]

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4O0n9UYw9v6GbluyjFLODb?si=uWIbJ5BAQdms5_dJqEfGng&utm_source=copy-link&pi=YhYgXuIrT6qNe

includes the most essential artists across pop, rock, rnb, jazz, metal, hiphop, funk, blues, indie/alternative, electronic, folk, country and reggae. This playlist is your entry point into becoming a music expert.

EDIT: I would like to note that, while artists like Joanna Newsom, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and Godspeed You Black Emperor should be on this list as they are indeed essential, unfortunately I was not able to add them as their discographies were not on Spotify. They are on YouTube, however, so I will make a YouTube version of the playlist in due course!

edit 2: here’s a YouTube Music and YouTube link that includes the aforementioned artists!

[u/nadennmantau]

While getting a good reality check on how many artists I know by name and pondering about some unexpected choices about which songs to pick, I can’t help but wonder how heavily Anglo-centric that list is.

No doubt, this is a list of accomplished artists and yet, it’s just a fraction of what is going on.

Still, thanks for compiling this.

[u/Capital-Scholar4944 → u/nadennmantau]

You’re definitely not wrong. the list is heavily skewed towards music in the west. I have tried to include artists from outside the west, such as Caetano Veloso, Jacques Brel, Cesaria Évora and Youssou N’Dour, Joao Gilberto, as well as the essential reggae artists, all of whom were responsible for shaping genres popular in their respective countries, some of whom even influenced artists in the west. still, it only represents a small portion of the playlist. the names included are based on the amount of critical acclaim as well as how essential they are considered online, by people who aren’t very educated on international artists, so naturally it is more skewed to the western world.

when adding international artists, I was weighing up how much of the playlist they should represent, because that meant certain subgenres in the west would get less representation, so wouldn’t be an accurate depiction of how essential those subgenres were.

i will definitely take your feedback into account though. i want the playlist to be as comprehensive as possible. Thank you!

[u/theo4170]

This looks amazing. Saved and can’t wait to have a listen. Thanks!

[u/avgoje]

Good mix, will give it a "spin"

[u/carajean2725]

Legend status! Going to quboz to buy what I don't have then put the songs on my dap.

[u/dnlstk]

I like how most of the chosen songs are just like adjacent to the song the general public would have chosen to represent each artist

[u/dnlstk → u/dnlstk]

Would love an Apple Music version as well if you got it in you :)

[u/Capital-Scholar4944 → u/dnlstk]

thank you! I spent time going into each subreddit researching what people consider to be their best song so it when listening it would encourage listeners to look into each artist further. I will try making an Apple playlist though many websites don’t let you transfer 1000 songs in one go. I will post an Apple version when it’s done!

[u/Distinct-Okra-6024]

“most important” is doing some serious heavy lifting here lol, what’s the actual criteria for making the cut?

[u/Capital-Scholar4944 → u/Distinct-Okra-6024]

What artists here do you not consider important? It’s a mix of the most acclaimed and most influential in each subgenre. What artists don’t you think belong here?