In celebration of its 125th anniversary, music trade magazine Billboard has released a special list of the top 125 artists of all time — and Diana Ross shows up twice within the top 50! She’s listed first with The Supremes, at #26 — and as a solo artist at #47.
Here’s the list’s description, via Billboard:
“Using a formula blending all titles tallied on both the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart (since its inception on Aug. 4, 1958) and the Billboard 200 albums chart (since it became a combined stereo/mono survey on Aug. 17, 1963), we assembled a list of music’s all-time top artists. (Due to changes in chart methodology and title turnover rates, certain periods for each chart recap were weighted differently to ensure as equal a representation as possible among all eras.)”
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Diana Ross and all the ladies of The Supremes (Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard, Barbara Martin, Cindy Birdsong, Jean Terrell, Lynda Laurence, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene) on making indisputable music history!
You can check out the full chart here.
THE DIANA ROSS PROJECT 
Thank you Paul – so if you combined her solo and Supremes points, what number do you think Ms. Ross would end up at?
Oh, she’s easily be in the Top 10. I don’t have any doubt about that. Mariah Carey is at #4, and she has a total of 18 #1 hits. Diana has a combined total of 18 #1 hits, with the Supremes and solo — and she’s had a ton of songs chart on the Hot 100 since the early 1960s — so she would be up there.
And presumably this is based on her U.S. chart positions only. She is one of the most successful U.K./international artists unlike some others on the list.
Yes, this is based only on Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 in the US — that’s a great point — she’s had massive success globally
Paul go this website: musicvf.com. It ranks all pop artists but awards points based on U.S. and UK charts – Diana had such a big career in the U.K. from 1985 – 1999, well after her last hit on the U.S. Hot 100.
Paul: The 18# 1s are her Billboard Hits. However, she hit #1 with “I’m Still Waiting” in 1971 in England. Shit, again, in England with “Chain Reaction” in 1986 and once again, with “If We Hold On” in Japan” which brings her total to 21. If you factor in her appearance on “What What Friends Are For,” she hit again. Thus, she hit 22 times, regardless of major charts. Hence, her ranking may take in the aforementioned, en total?
Yes, on this site, I refer to BB Hot 100 #1 hits — I live in the United States and my chat data is thus generally focused here. If you factor in Cash Box, she has even more #1 hits — “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” topped Cash Box
I think you mean her appearance on “We Are The World” — she wasn’t on Dionne’s “That’s What Friends Are For”
Reblogged this on Pauliebronx's Blog.
This is a great post, but I’d wager it’s the pre-1970 Supremes who are being cited here.
Of course the pre-1970 Supremes make up the bulk of the hits counted toward their #26 ranking — but the chart formula takes into account ALL chart entries on the Hot 100 and the Billboard 200 from 1958 to the present day. Thus, hits like “Stoned Love” and “Up The Ladder” etc. are also included here.
If you consider that the Supremes first charted within the top 100 as early as 1963, Ross sang lead on various songs until 2019.
It is logical to write that no other artist in the history of Billboard ever had hits from 1963 – 2019 which spams 46 – 47 years. She had 12#1s with The Supremes; 6#1s in The US; 2#1s in England; plus a #1 in Japan and three other #1s as a duet or as a member of an ensemble of various singers.
This is a formidable legacy that has yet to be equaled or surpassed. The Houston and Carey Routines ended long ago.
Ross like McCartney will go down as the two most successful Artists of the Twentieth Century