There are certain objective measures, e.g. Top 5/10/25/100 lists by critics and other credentialed people. There are record sales and polls and now, thanks to streaming, "listens". Yes, each of these have an element of subjectivity to them but also certain patterns become apparent, such that particular songs and artists show up again and again across the various measures.
There are certain objective measures, e.g. Top 5/10/25/100 lists by critics and other credentialed people. There are record sales and polls and now, thanks to streaming, "listens". Yes, each of these have an element of subjectivity to them but also certain patterns become apparent, such that particular songs and artists show up again and again across the various measures.