What artists are in their "prime"?

[NORTHCOAST]

I was thinking about different concerts I've been to over the years and realized that concerts of artists that I saw in their "prime" are now so much more precious to me. Like Bruce Springsteen in 1980. Saw him again several years back and it was more of a farewell tour atmosphere than an artist in his prime. Wondering what concerts you've seen of artists in their prime. Who would you consider in their prime today?

[j]

Linkin Park?
Eminem?
Evanescence? (This will obviously be their biggest selling album)

[Crushcrushchris]

I don't know. Doesn't it seem that a lot of artists normally hit their prime during their first albums because it's their most popular?

Anyway I'd probably say that 3 Doors Down is in their prime. 2 absolutely huge singles when I thought that the best they'd do was Kryptonite.

[af18c]

Pop chart-wise, Alicia Keys. I see her leaning more towards Urban AC for her next album.

[Matt4319]

OutKast

jae said:

Evanescence? (This will obviously be their biggest selling album)

If that's the criteria you use, then Linkin Park (another artist you named) are past their prime.

[jond7699]

3 Doors Down

[jimmy74747]

I agree with 3 Doors Down

Also: Nickelback, Linkin Park, Outkast, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith.

In fact, Toby is the best example. He is selling more albums now than ever before, selling out his tour dates, and gets plenty of mainstream attention. He is at his peak of success.

Some of the others I mentioned may have not been around long enough to truly see if now is their peak, but they all have survived the sophmore slump, and are accepted by the masses as legitimate artists.

[af18c]

jimmy74747 said:

I agree with 3 Doors Down

I do too.

[j]

Matt4319 said:

OutKast
If that's the criteria you use, then Linkin Park (another artist you named) are past their prime.

Oh... well I wasn't going by the same criteria for the artists I mentioned. I was thinking about Linkin Park's Alternative airplay this past year.

[af18c]

Matt4319 said:

OutKast

I agree. I think "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move" will be their 2 biggest CHR/Pop hits.

[Flavoured]

When do you think Britney hit her peak? If you going by sales it would have been during the "BOMT Era", but if you were deciding it on media coverage what would you say?

[jimmy74747]

Flavoured said:

When do you think Britney hit her peak? If you going by sales it would have been during the "BOMT Era", but if you were deciding it on media coverage what would you say?

Tough to say. Media coverage should not be a huge factor in deciding, just a small part. I said Toby Keith's media coverage matters because it coincides with sales, airplay and everything else that peaks now.

Based on that I would say Britney's peak occured during the summer of 2000 when "Oops" was released and she had big audiences for her shed tour.

[halo19]

Yeah, I don't think that Linkin Park will ever be as big on the alternative chart as they were with the Meteora singles were.

I'd also say that Elephant is the most acclaim the White Stripes can get. They're probably at their sales peak right now, although I think that they can maybe have alt. hits. But with Jack's possible prison sentence, it may not happen ;) Although I think that they might have an album that opens up higher than a #6 peak. And seeing as a) they're on V2 and b) Jack White probably wouldn't want a song on pop, they likely won't do anything on that format. It's what happens when the most mainstream music source give the album a classic review.. Although Beck got that when he was past his prime.

[Luckie Starchild]

Cher -- she just finished the highest grossing tour ever by a female artist!

[pophector]

Luckie said:

Cher -- she just finished the highest grossing tour ever by a female artist!

1999 - More her prime & peak year imo... with both the success of Believe album & single worldwide...

[irice22]

I completely agree with Outkast, it seems like they cannot get any more success!

[Bob]

Outkast is a great example, they couldn't be any bigger! What remains to be seen is how long their prime will last-- I think it will go beyond these singles, and if they keep working together, beyond this double effort.

[Sean]

Christina Aguilera
Beyonce
Dido

[billcs]

3 Doors Down? Alicia Keys? How do two albums put an artist in their prime? OutKast I can understand. Even matchbox twenty is only three albums into a career, same with Pink.

[Devil Marlena Nylund]

Outkast right now. I'd say Mary J. Blige when 'Family Affair' was big. Kelis will be in a few months.
I'd agree with Evanescence right now too but that could change.