NEW YORK. The Beatles, that iconic pop-rock band, hold the top spot as the world's most popular band, according to the global online research firm, YouGov. They lead the top 200 rock artists list with 74% popularity. Queen ranks second at 70%, trailing by 4%. Freddie Mercury lands at number nine with 64%, tying Elvis Presley, the king of rock 'n' roll, who also scores 64% but faces a downward trend.
Top 10 most popular classic rock artists:
The Beatles (74%) Queen (70%) Fleetwood Mac (67%) The Rolling Stones (67%) Billy Joel (67%) Phil Collins (66%) Jimi Hendrix (66%) Aerosmith (65%) Freddie Mercury (64%) Elvis Presley (64%)
YouGov compiled the rankings Q4-2025. This global online research firm analyzes data to reveal public opinions. The full list sits on their public website.
