With The List, American Songwriter details the best, the brightest, the most enduring, the worst, the most hated, and the most surprising songs ever–among many other qualifiers. If you’re looking for our definitive rankings on music, you’ll find them below.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Richard Marx speaks onstage during the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year Honoring Mariah Carey at Los Angeles Convention Center on January 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
