What is the best way to compare how big a band currently is? My quick go-to is monthly listeners on Spotify. For example, Roger Creager currently has 80k monhtly listeners while Robert Earl Keen still boasts 328k monthly listeners. That number changes monthly, but its a quick way to find out, for example, how U2 (19.8 million) compares to Taylor Swift (90.2 million).

I also look at current tours. U2 plays NRG to a sold out crowd for one night. Taylor Swift did three sold out nights. Another example - Sammy Hagar books and sells out the Woodlands Pavillion (15,000 seats) compared to Rick Springfield selling out Smart Financial Center (6000 seats).

Those are all big names. How about Blackberry Smoke vs Black Crowes? Both played 713 Music Hall, but Smoke was seated vs all standing for Crowes. Also, Smoke has 741k monthlys vs 2.5 million for Crowes.

I would guess up-and-coming or struggling artists hit up social media and friends and family for streams to get up to 4 or 5 digits on monthly listeners, but that's a short term gain at best. I see one of my favorite local bar bands is sitting at 13 monthly listeners. I just increased that number by 7.6% all by myself. That tracks.

Anyways, other than overall album sales, is there a better way?

I base mine on who has done the best job of rhyming Mansion with Wisconsin?

T-Pain tops my list.

I definitely have my own system, which would look a lot like most of y'alls with a lot of defunct or aging classic rock bands at the top. No brainer. I'm more curious about how current, smaller artists stack up against each other. I.e. who's bigger, Roger Creager or Randy Rogers? Billy Strings or Greta Van Fleet? etc.

I'm regretting this thread, already.

Not a big Spotify user myself, but it strikes me that older artists -- and perhaps country artists -- might be at a disadvantage with new ones when comparing streaming listeners.