Replace top ranked artist with the next one better

[Fischman]

So I figured I'd try this but not being so judicious in my deletions. Of course that means a lot of other artists I don't care for will move onto the list. Which will require another iteration of deletions. I'm curious how many iterations (additional rounds of deletions) would be required before I get to an acceptable list, This kind of splits the difference between RTB's concept in the OP and just making a personal top 40; the result won't actually be a personal top 40, but rather a list of the BEA highest ranked list artists that I can abide. (for instance, Fleetwood Mac is nowhere near my personal top 40, but in the spirit of finding a nexus between BEAs overall rankings and my tastes, they'd be a keeper).

Round 1:
1 The Beatles
2 Radiohead
3 Pink Floyd
4 David Bowie
5 Bob Dylan
6 Led Zeppelin
7 Arcade Fire
8 The Rolling Stones
9 The Velvet Underground
10 Nirvana
11 The Smiths
12 Kendrick Lamar
13 Neil Young
14 Pixies
15 The Beach Boys
16 Miles Davis
17 Kanye West
18 Bruce Springsteen
19 The Who
20 R.E.M.
21 U2
22 The Clash
23 Jimi Hendrix
24 The Doors
25 Talking Heads
26 King Crimson
27 Sufjan Stevens
28 Neutral Milk Hotel
29 The Cure
30 Joy Division
31 The Strokes
32 Arctic Monkeys
33 The Smashing Pumpkins
34 My Bloody Valentine
35 Fleetwood Mac
36 Metallica
37 Black Sabbath
38 Oasis
39 Weezer
40 Genesis

Round 2:
1 Pink Floyd
2 Led Zeppelin
3 The Rolling Stones
4 Miles Davis
5 The Who
6 Jimi Hendrix
7 The Doors
8 Talking Heads
9 King Crimson
10 Neutral Milk Hotel
11 Fleetwood Mac
12 Metallica
13 Black Sabbath
14 Genesis

15 Bjork
16 Nick Drake
17 The National
18 Wilco
19 Coldplay
20 Van Morrison
21 Pearl Jam
22 Tom Waits
23 Sonic Youth
24 Muse
25 Sigur Ros
26 Prince
27 Tame Impala
28 Flaming Lips
29 Queen
30 John Coltrane
31 Kate Bush
32 Modest Mouse
33 Yes
34Stone Roses
35 Bon Iver
36 Stevie Wonder
37 Red Hot Chili Peppers
38 Animal Collective
39 MIchael Jackson
40 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

Round 3:
1 Pink Floyd
2 Led Zeppelin
3 The Rolling Stones
4 Miles Davis
5 The Who
6 Jimi Hendrix
7 The Doors
8 Talking Heads
9 King Crimson
10 Neutral Milk Hotel
11 Fleetwood Mac
12 Metallica
13 Black Sabbath
14 Genesis
15 The National
16 Muse
17 Sigur Ros
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Yes
21 Stevie Wonder
22 Red Hot Chili Peppers
23 Animal Collective

24 Rush
25 LCD Soundsystem
26 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
27 Joni MItchell
28 Queens of the Stone Age
29 Kinks
30 White Stripes
31 Simon and Garfunkel
32 Frank Zappa
33 Vampire Weekend
34 Beach House
35 Fleet Foxes
36 Charles Mingus
37 Depeche Mode
38 Talk Talk
39 Portishead
40 Green Day

Round 4:
1 Pink Floyd
2 Led Zeppelin
3 The Rolling Stones
4 Miles Davis
5 The Who
6 Jimi Hendrix
7 The Doors
8 Talking Heads
9 King Crimson
10 Neutral Milk Hotel
11 Fleetwood Mac
12 Metallica
13 Black Sabbath
14 Genesis
15 The National
16 Muse
17 Sigur Ros
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Yes
21 Stevie Wonder
22 Red Hot Chili Peppers
23 Animal Collective
24 Rush
25 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
26 Joni MItchell
27 Kinks
38 Frank Zappa
29 Fleet Foxes
30 Charles Mingus

31 Frank Ocean
32 Blur
33 Television
34 AC/DC
35 Tool
36 Elliot Smith
37 Imterpol
38 Can
39 Leonard Cohen
40 Gorillaz

Round 5: (no new love)
1 Pink Floyd
2 Led Zeppelin
3 The Rolling Stones
4 Miles Davis
5 The Who
6 Jimi Hendrix
7 The Doors
8 Talking Heads
9 King Crimson
10 Neutral Milk Hotel
11 Fleetwood Mac
12 Metallica
13 Black Sabbath
14 Genesis
15 The National
16 Muse
17 Sigur Ros
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Yes
21 Stevie Wonder
22 Red Hot Chili Peppers
23 Animal Collective
24 Rush
25 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
26 Joni MItchell
27 Kinks
38 Frank Zappa
29 Fleet Foxes
30 Charles Mingus
31 Television
32 AC/DC
33 Tool
34 Can
35 Gorillaz

36 Daft Punk
37 Marvin Gaye
38 Beck
39 Pavement
40 Lou Reed

Round 6: (no new love)
1 Pink Floyd
2 Led Zeppelin
3 The Rolling Stones
4 Miles Davis
5 The Who
6 Jimi Hendrix
7 The Doors
8 Talking Heads
9 King Crimson
10 Neutral Milk Hotel
11 Fleetwood Mac
12 Metallica
13 Black Sabbath
14 Genesis
15 The National
16 Muse
17 Sigur Ros
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Yes
21 Stevie Wonder
22 Red Hot Chili Peppers
23 Animal Collective
24 Rush
25 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
26 Joni MItchell
27 Kinks
38 Frank Zappa
29 Fleet Foxes
30 Charles Mingus
31 Television
32 AC/DC
33 Tool
34 Can
35 Gorillaz

36 Belle and Sebastian
37 Jeff Buckley
38 Brian Eno
39 Nine Inch Nails
40 Swans

Round 7: (no new love)
1 Pink Floyd
2 Led Zeppelin
3 The Rolling Stones
4 Miles Davis
5 The Who
6 Jimi Hendrix
7 The Doors
8 Talking Heads
9 King Crimson
10 Neutral Milk Hotel
11 Fleetwood Mac
12 Metallica
13 Black Sabbath
14 Genesis
15 The National
16 Muse
17 Sigur Ros
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Yes
21 Stevie Wonder
22 Red Hot Chili Peppers
23 Animal Collective
24 Rush
25 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
26 Joni MItchell
27 Kinks
38 Frank Zappa
29 Fleet Foxes
30 Charles Mingus
31 Television
32 AC/DC
33 Tool
34 Can
35 Gorillaz
36 Swans
37 Elvis Costello
38 Love
39 Iron Maiden
40 PJ Harvey

[CA Dreamin]

I don't always equate artists with bands. Sometimes it's only one person who's the artist.
_________________
on such a winter's day

[RockyRaccoon]

[Hayden]

[TodFitz]

I liked the format Fischman used so I was going to try to follow it.
I eliminated a lot of bands and increased the rounds to 50,
and it still ended up going too many rounds.

Round 1
1 The Beatles X
2 Radiohead X
3 Pink Floyd
4 David Bowie
5 Bob Dylan X
6 Led Zeppelin
7 Arcade Fire X
8 The Rolling Stones X
9 The Velvet Underground X
10 Nirvana X
11 The Smiths
12 Kendrick Lamar X
13 Neil Young X
14 Pixies
15 The Beach Boys X
16 Miles Davis
17 Kanye West X
18 Bruce Springsteen X
19 The Who X
20 R.E.M. X
21 U2
22 The Clash X
23 Jimi Hendrix
24 The Doors
25 Talking Heads
26 King Crimson X
27 Sufjan Stevens X
28 Neutral Milk Hotel X
29 The Cure
30 Joy Division
31 The Strokes X
32 Arctic Monkeys X
33 The Smashing Pumpkins
34 My Bloody Valentine
35 Fleetwood Mac X
36 Metallica X
37 Black Sabbath
38 Oasis X
39 Weezer X
40 Genesis
41 Bjork X
42 Nick Drake X
43 The National X
44 Coldplay X
45 Wilco X
46 Van Morrison X
47 Pearl Jam X
48 Tom Waits X
49 Sonic Youth
50 Muse X

Round 2
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 Sigur Ros X
19 Prince X
20 Tame Impala X
21 The Flaming Lips X
22 Queen X
23 John Coltrane
24 Kate Bush
25 Modest Mouse X
26 Yes X
27 The Stone Roses X
28 Bon Iver X
29 Stevie Wonder X
30 Red Hot Chili Peppers
31 Animal Collective X
32 Michael Jackson X
33 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds X
34 Rush
35 LCD Soundsystem X
36 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
37 Joni Mitchell X
38 Queens Of The Stone Age X
39 The Kinks X
40 The White Stripes X
41 Simon & Garfunkel X
42 Frank Zappa X
43 Vampire Weekend X
44 Beach House X
45 Fleet Foxes X
46 Charles Mingus X
47 Depeche Mode
48 Talk Talk
49 Portishead X
50 Green Day X

Round 3
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers
21 Rush
22 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
23 Depeche Mode
24 Talk Talk

25 Frank Ocean X
26 Blur X
27 Television X
28 AC/DC
29 Tool
30 Elliott Smith X
31 Interpol
32 Can X
33 Gorillaz X
34 Leonard Cohen X
35 Daft Punk X
36 Marvin Gaye X
37 Beck X
38 Pavement X
39 Lou Reed X
40 Belle And Sebastian X
41 Jeff Buckley X
42 Brian Eno X
43 Nine Inch Nails
44 Swans X
45 Elvis Costello
46 Love X
47 Iron Maiden
48 PJ Harvey
49 Nas X
50 Massive Attack X

Round 4
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers
21 Rush
22 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
23 Depeche Mode
24 Talk Talk
25 AC/DC
26 Tool
27 Interpol
28 Nine Inch Nails
29 Elvis Costello
30 Iron Maiden
31 PJ Harvey

32 The Stooges X
33 Guns N’ Roses X
34 Steely Dan X
35 John Lennon X
36 Bob Marley X
37 Paul McCartney X
38 A Tribe Called Quest X
39 Joanna Newsome X
40 Paul Simon X
41 Dire Straits X
42 Creedence Clearwater Revival X
43 Slowdive
44 Kraftwerk X
45 New Order
46 Jethro Tull X
47 Rage Against The Machine X
48 Peter Gabriel
49 Beastie Boys X
50 Deep Purple X

Round 5
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers
21 Rush
22 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
23 Depeche Mode
24 Talk Talk
25 AC/DC
26 Tool
27 Interpol
28 Nine Inch Nails
29 Elvis Costello
30 Iron Maiden
31 PJ Harvey
32 Slowdive
33 New Order
35 Peter Gabriel

36 Elton John X
37 Richard David James X
38 Foo Fighters X
39 The Killers X
40 Eminem X
41 Slint X
42 Ramones
43 The Band X
44 The Black Keys X
45 OutKast X
46 Death Grips X
47 Madvillain X
48 Cocteau Twins
49 The Zombies X
50 Johnny Cash X

Round 6
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers
21 Rush
22 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
23 Depeche Mode
24 Talk Talk
25 AC/DC
26 Tool
27 Interpol
28 Nine Inch Nails
29 Elvis Costello
30 Iron Maiden
31 PJ Harvey
32 Slowdive
33 New Order
34 Peter Gabriel
35 Ramones
36 Cocteau Twins

37 Car Seat Headrest X
38 Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band X
39 George Harrison X
40 Porcupine Tree X
41 Electric Light Orchestra X
42 The War On Drugs X
43 Alice In Chains
44 Sex Pistols X
45 Greatful Dead X
46 Supertramp X
47 Wu-Tang Clan X
48 The Replacements X
49 Roxy Music
50 The Police

Round Seven
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers
21 Rush
22 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
23 Depeche Mode
24 Talk Talk
25 AC/DC
26 Tool
27 Interpol
28 Nine Inch Nails
29 Elvis Costello
30 Iron Maiden
31 PJ Harvey
32 Slowdive
33 New Order
34 Peter Gabriel
35 Ramones
36 Cocteau Twins
37 Alice In Chains
38 Roxy Music
39 The Police

40 Built To Spill X
41 Elvis Presley X
42 Manic Street Preachers X
43 Frank Sinatra X
44 Soundgarden

Final 40
1 Pink Floyd
2 David Bowie
3 Led Zeppelin
4 The Smiths
5 Pixies
6 Miles Davis
7 U2
8 Jimi Hendrix
9 The Doors
10 Talking Heads
11 The Cure
12 Joy Division
13 The Smashing Pumpkins
14 My Bloody Valentine
15 Black Sabbath
16 Genesis
17 Sonic Youth
18 John Coltrane
19 Kate Bush
20 Red Hot Chili Peppers
21 Rush
22 Godspeed You! Black Emperor
23 Depeche Mode
24 Talk Talk
25 AC/DC
26 Tool
27 Interpol
28 Nine Inch Nails
29 Elvis Costello
30 Iron Maiden
31 PJ Harvey
32 Slowdive
33 New Order
34 Peter Gabriel
35 Ramones
36 Cocteau Twins
37 Alice In Chains
38 Roxy Music
39 The Police
40 Soundgarden

[baystateoftheart]

I'll make my criteria simple: if the artist has at least one album I love, they stay. I bet this list would be a lot different if I required two.

Welcoming recs for the crossed out artists that you think might change my mind (you can search my ratings to see if I've heard it).

Round 1

1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Led Zeppelin
7. Arcade Fire
8. The Rolling Stones
9. The Velvet Underground
10. Nirvana
11. The Smiths
12. Kendrick Lamar
13. Neil Young
14. The Beach Boys
15. Pixies
16. Miles Davis
17. Kanye West
18. Bruce Springsteen
19. The Who
20. R.E.M.
21. U2
22. The Clash
23. Jimi Hendrix
24. The Doors
25. Talking Heads
26. King Crimson
27. Sufjan Stevens
28. Neutral Milk Hotel
29. The Cure
30. The Strokes
31. Joy Division
32. Arctic Monkeys
33. The Smashing Pumpkins
34. My Bloody Valentine
35. Fleetwood Mac
36. Metallica
37. Black Sabbath
38. Oasis
39. Weezer
40. Genesis

Round 2

1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Arcade Fire
7. The Rolling Stones
8. The Velvet Underground
9. Nirvana
10. The Smiths
11. Kendrick Lamar
12. Neil Young
13. The Beach Boys
14. Miles Davis
15. Kanye West
16. Bruce Springsteen
17. The Who
18. R.E.M.
19. The Clash
20. Jimi Hendrix
21. The Doors
22. Talking Heads
23. King Crimson
24. Sufjan Stevens
25. Neutral Milk Hotel
26. The Cure
27. The Strokes
28. Joy Division
29. My Bloody Valentine
30. Fleetwood Mac
31. Black Sabbath
32. Oasis
33. Weezer

34. Björk
35. Nick Drake
36. The National
37. Coldplay
38. Wilco
39. Van Morrison
40. Pearl Jam

Round 3

1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Arcade Fire
7. The Rolling Stones
8. The Velvet Underground
9. Nirvana
10. The Smiths
11. Kendrick Lamar
12. Neil Young
13. The Beach Boys
14. Miles Davis
15. Kanye West
16. Bruce Springsteen
17. The Who
18. R.E.M.
19. The Clash
20. Jimi Hendrix
21. The Doors
22. Talking Heads
23. King Crimson
24. Sufjan Stevens
25. Neutral Milk Hotel
26. The Cure
27. The Strokes
28. Joy Division
29. My Bloody Valentine
30. Fleetwood Mac
31. Black Sabbath
32. Oasis
33. Weezer
34. Björk
35. Nick Drake
36. The National
37. Wilco

38. Tom Waits
39. Sonic Youth
40. Muse

Round 4

1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Arcade Fire
7. The Rolling Stones
8. The Velvet Underground
9. Nirvana
10. The Smiths
11. Kendrick Lamar
12. Neil Young
13. The Beach Boys
14. Miles Davis
15. Kanye West
16. Bruce Springsteen
17. The Who
18. R.E.M.
19. The Clash
20. Jimi Hendrix
21. The Doors
22. Talking Heads
23. King Crimson
24. Sufjan Stevens
25. Neutral Milk Hotel
26. The Cure
27. The Strokes
28. Joy Division
29. My Bloody Valentine
30. Fleetwood Mac
31. Black Sabbath
32. Oasis
33. Weezer
34. Björk
35. Nick Drake
36. The National
37. Wilco
38. Sonic Youth

39. Sigur Rós
40. Prince

Round 5

1. The Beatles
2. Radiohead
3. Pink Floyd
4. David Bowie
5. Bob Dylan
6. Arcade Fire
7. The Rolling Stones
8. The Velvet Underground
9. Nirvana
10. The Smiths
11. Kendrick Lamar
12. Neil Young
13. The Beach Boys
14. Miles Davis
15. Kanye West
16. Bruce Springsteen
17. The Who
18. R.E.M.
19. The Clash
20. Jimi Hendrix
21. The Doors
22. Talking Heads
23. King Crimson
24. Sufjan Stevens
25. Neutral Milk Hotel
26. The Cure
27. The Strokes
28. Joy Division
29. My Bloody Valentine
30. Fleetwood Mac
31. Black Sabbath
32. Oasis
33. Weezer
34. Björk
35. Nick Drake
36. The National
37. Wilco
38. Sonic Youth
39. Sigur Rós
40. Tame Impala
_________________
Add me on RYM

[Fischman]

[Fischman]

[TodFitz]

You could have pushed your list out to include Dream Theater at #180.

[baystateoftheart]