Top 50 Artists Of 2020
The top artists of 2020 brought us music that defined an unpredictable year. With streaming platforms booming and live events paused, artists had to connect with fans in new ways. This list showcases both Billboard top artists 2020 and those ranked using Jarrett Nolan’s cumulative chart performance method.
Comparing the Billboard vs. Nolan Method Rankings
These 2020 top artists are ranked by two methodologies.
This section contains the side by side comparison of the top 50 of Billboard’s top 100 artists of 2020 and Jarrett Nolan’s cumulative point method (aka the Nolan Method).
Check here for the top 100 songs of 2020 (Billboards vs. Nolan Method) or this page for the breakdown in alphabetical order.
2020 Billboard Artists’ Ranking vs. Nolan Method Chart
These top 50 artists of 2020 were created using data between December 2019 to the last week of November 2020.
The Billboard ranking is based on an artist’s chart performance on the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard 200 and Social 50, and Boxscore touring revenue.
Meanwhile, the Nolan Method ranking is based on an artist’s chart performance on the Billboard Hot 100 WITHIN the Top 40. Points for collaborations are awarded to each credited artist.
| 1 | Post Malone | Roddy Ricch |
| 2 | the Weeknd | DaBaby |
| 3 | Roddy Ricch | Drake |
| 4 | DaBaby | the Weeknd |
| 5 | Drake | Justin Bieber |
| 6 | Juice WRLD | Harry Styles |
| 7 | Lil Baby | Juice WRLD |
| 8 | Harry Styles | Dua Lipa |
| 9 | Taylor Swift | Post Malone |
| 10 | Pop Smoke | Megan Thee Stallion |
| 11 | Billie Eilish | Lewis Capaldi |
| 12 | Dua Lipa | Lil Baby |
| 13 | Luke Combs | Future |
| 14 | Lil Uzi Vert | Pop Smoke |
| 15 | Justin Bieber | Billie Eilish |
| 16 | Lewis Capaldi | Lil Uzi Vert |
| 17 | YoungBoy Never Broke Again | Ariana Grande |
| 18 | BTS | Young Thug |
| 19 | Bad Bunny | Gabby Barrett |
| 20 | Megan Thee Stallion | Chris Brown |
| 21 | Rod Wave | Charlie Puth |
| 22 | Doja Cat | Quavo |
| 23 | Travis Scott | Mustard |
| 24 | Morgan Wallen | Jack Harlow |
| 25 | Lizzo | Maroon 5 |
| 26 | Future | SAINt JHN |
| 27 | Ariana Grande | Maren Morris |
| 28 | Eminem | Travis Scott |
| 29 | Maroon 5 | Doja Cat |
| 30 | Young Thug | Arizona Zervas |
| 31 | Kane Brown | Taylor Swift |
| 32 | Chris Brown | Lil Wayne |
| 33 | Jonas Brothers | Nicki Minaj |
| 34 | Maren Morris | Tones and I |
| 35 | Halsey | BTS |
| 36 | Gunna | Jason Derulo |
| 37 | Elton John | Jawsh 685 |
| 38 | Tones and I | Tory Lanez |
| 39 | Polo G | Camila Cabello |
| 40 | Ed Sheeran | Beyonce |
| 41 | Selena Gomez | Cardi B |
| 42 | Camila Cabello | Marshmello |
| 43 | Gabby Barrett | Gunna |
| 44 | Lady Gaga | Lil Durk |
| 45 | Khalid | Lil Mosey |
| 46 | Lil Mosey | Lizzo |
| 47 | SAINt JHN | Lady Gaga |
| 48 | Trevor Daniel | Dan + Shay |
| 49 | Jack Harlow | Selena Gomez |
| 50 | Jhene Aiko | 24kGoldn (tie) iann dior (tie) |
What Is the Nolan Method?
The Nolan Method offers an alternative view of 2020 top music artists, focusing on consistent success within the Top 40. Unlike Billboard’s broader methodology, it rewards chart longevity and avoids skewing results based on one viral hit or box office data.
Final Thoughts on the Top Artists of 2020
The top artists of 2020 reflected a year of innovation, resilience, and genre-crossing creativity. Whether you followed the Billboard list or prefer the Nolan Method, this year proved that success comes in many forms.
👉 Explore more of our year-end rankings, including the Top 100 Songs of 2020.