There have been several musicians that have stood the test of time: Freddie Mercury / Queen, Johnny Cash, Bon Jovi, Metallica, Steely Dan, and Elton John to name a few. What many of these musicians had in common was their success in producing hit songs and remaining active for years, even decades. For musicians Freddie Mercury, Johnny Cash, and Elton John, films had been made about their life and music, which brought them back into the spotlight. The unique sounds of these artists also lured listeners in throughout the years. Additionally, many of these artists were popular with our parents; therefore, we grew up listening to those artists too. For instance, I grew up listening to Bon Jovi, Johnny Cash, and Metallica, whom I still listen to today.

When considering which modern-day musicians will stand the test of time, I will consider how many popular songs they released, how often music is released, and how long they have been active. When looking into the Pop genre, I believe Lady Gaga will certainly stand the test of time. Starting her career in 2005 and still active, she released hits such as “Born This Way”, “Poker Face”, “Shallow”, and “Bloody Mary”, which made a resurgence thanks to the Wednesday TikTok dance challenge. Additionally, she has become a part of the acting world by starring in films such as “A Star is Born” and the sequel to “Joker”, which is said to be released in 2024.

When it comes to the rock genre, more specifically hard rock, I think Shinedown and Disturbed will stand the test of time. Even though it seems Shinedown is on a downward slope, they were able to top number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart 18 times, setting the record for most top-rated songs on that chart. Having so many popular songs and a career that began in 2001, it’s hard not to see this band lasting throughout the years. In addition, I believe Disturbed will also stand the test of time for many of the same reasons: they remain active, had 5 out of 8 albums rank number 1 on the Billboard 200, and had 11 number 1’s on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. Compared to Shinedown, Disturbed seems to have kept up its popularity, especially when looking at Spotify play numbers.

Even though I’ve only mentioned a few artists, there are many more that I believe will stand the test of time. What makes a musician last is not only their popularity and how many albums they have but also their cultural impact and their message that will truly allow them to stand the test of time.