Top 10 Music Artists that Should Be Given Honorific Nicknames

There are many artists and bands with honorific nicknames. But there are many more who have a chance.

Some artists, producers, and bands have reasons to be honored. This includes living and deceased artists as well as active and disbanded bands.

The Top Ten

Sophie Xeon

Sophie Xeon (September 17, 1986 - January 30, 2021), best known as SOPHIE, was a Scottish music producer, songwriter, and DJ.
She was best known for her work with artists such as Charli XCX, A.G. Cook, Madonna, and Kim Petras, and for helping to define the hyperpop genre.... read more

She should be nicknamed Godmother of Hyperpop, Goddess of Hyperpop, Princess of Hyperpop, Queen of Hyperpop, The New Dance Queen, Princess of Avant-Garde, New Queen of Avant-Garde, The Next Big Thing, Queen of Experiments, Queen of Experimental Pop, New Goddess of Pop, New Princess of Pop, New Queen of Pop, and The Trans Tycoon of Teen (due to her transgender orientation).
A.G. Cook (who founded the PC Music label) is often credited as the Godfather of Hyperpop, but Sophie produced music that truly defined it. She pushed pop music to the extreme and produced for many artists we already know. The world lost Michael Jackson (the King of Pop) in 2009 (due to cardiac arrest from drug overdose) and Phil Spector (the first Tycoon of Teen) in early January 2021 (due to COVID-19 complications). Yet, unlike many other genres, Hyperpop is growing rapidly and being introduced with many new artists and bands.
The world lost Sophie, the next big producer of music, near the end of January due to a fall. She was poised to surpass Björk as the Queen of Avant-Garde. She deserves posthumous nicknames in honor of her unparalleled achievements. There will never be another big producer like her in our lifetimes. She had it all and left this Earth too soon, never to be replaced.
To think the deaths of Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly in a plane crash led to "the day music died," think again. If she posthumously receives all those names, she would hold the Guinness World Record for the artist and producer with the most honorific nicknames in music. There's no chance of a producer on her level creating unique sounds in our lifetimes. She was more than halfway between 34 and 35.
Avicii

Tim Bergling (September 8, 1989 - April 20, 2018), better known by his stage name Avicii, was a Swedish electronic musician, DJ, remixer, and record producer. He was best known for his contributions to electronic music in the 2010s, with numerous songs charting in the Top 40 and influencing a new generation... read more

He should be nicknamed the Prince and King of Pop, as well as the Prince of Electropop. Many artists share these nicknames, so he deserves a chance. He was the peak of electronic music as a solo artist and producer, becoming incredibly popular among other EDM artists and bands. His EDM was superior to any other artist of our time and even today. He helped Coldplay explore house music (thanks to A Sky Full of Stars).
He also pioneered country house, thus should be nicknamed The Godfather of Country House. He should be nicknamed the Innovator of EDM, as he changed the landscape of EDM. Nobody will ever replace him as he was at the top of the EDM game.
R.I.P. (from suicide 3.5 months before turning 29 in April 2018).
Coldplay

Coldplay is a British rock band formed in 1996. The group includes Chris Martin (lead vocals, piano), Jonny Buckland (lead guitar), Guy Berryman (bass), and Will Champion (drums, backing vocals). Their manager, Phil Harvey, is often referred to as the unofficial fifth member.... read more

They should be nicknamed The Next Big Group of Non-Korean Pop. They're the dominating group outside of Korea, producing a wide diversity of music in alternative patterns: rock, synth-pop, house, etc. They should also be nicknamed The Saviors of Earth for their efforts to cut down carbon emissions by 50%, which would make Earth better in the future.
They have released 19 albums so far but unfortunately have announced one more (in 2025) before they retire from making new music as a band.
Selena Quintanilla Perez

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was an American singer, songwriter, spokesperson, actress, and fashion designer. Known as the Queen of Tejano music, she was one of the most celebrated Mexican-American entertainers of the late 20th century. She was murdered in 1995 at the age of 23.

She was nicknamed the Queen of Tejano and Tex-Mex music during her life, so she should posthumously be nicknamed the Real Queen of Latin Pop.
She was going to become bigger than Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, Thalía, Marília Mendonça (R.I.P.), Anitta, and all the other big Latin ladies out there. She was shot by her manager on March 31, 1995. She was only 21.
R.I.P. Selena (1974-1995), never forgotten.
Toots Hibbert

He was the equivalent of Bob Marley and was the leader of Toots & the Maytals (equivalent to Bob Marley & the Wailers). He made a huge impact on reggae since his big hit Funky Kingston. He's the reason TJR produced Funky Vodka, which Pitbull sampled in Don't Stop the Party (crediting TJR by featuring him).
He should be nicknamed The King of Reggae. Sadly, he fell into a coma and passed away in 2020. He was roughly halfway between 77 and 78.
R.I.P. Toots (1942-2020).
Juice WRLD

Jarad Anthony Higgins, known professionally as Juice WRLD, was born on December 2, 1998, and passed away on December 8, 2019. He was a rapper, singer, and songwriter known for his influence on the emo-rap and SoundCloud rap scenes, which gained popularity in the mid-to-late 2010s. His stage name came... read more

He should be nicknamed The Lucid Dreamer, as well as Prince and King of Hyperactive Rap. The music he experimented with, such as hip-hop and hyperpop, showed his versatility. Lucid Dreams demonstrates his standard hip-hop side while Come & Go shows his hyperpop side.
He worked with artists like Travis Scott, a significant influence in hip-hop lately.
R.I.P. (1998-2019 at only 21).
Daft Punk

Daft Punk was a French electronic music duo composed of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. They were known for their innovative approach to electronic music, blending house, funk, and techno elements. Daft Punk achieved international fame with hits like Around the World, One More Time... read more

From 1993 until 2021, the duo Daft Punk produced music that brought house to the French regions (thus French House was born). They had all sorts of styles that kept people dancing. No other band could do it like them.
They should be nicknamed The Beatles of EDM for their impact and endurance in all EDM genres worldwide. Almost every EDM and pop artist was influenced by Daft Punk in some way.
Long live the members of Daft Punk.
XXXTentacion

Jahseh Dwayne Onfroy (January 23, 1998 - June 18, 2018), known professionally as XXXTentacion and often referred to as X, was an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to prominence with his unique blend of genres including hip hop, rock, and R&B. Despite a controversial personal life and criminal... read more

He should be nicknamed The Prince and King of Moody Rap, as well as The Prince and King of Gen-Z. His rap songs have a sad mood (like Changes, for example) and he contributed to Gen-Z music more than any other male artist.
R.I.P. XXXTentacion (1998-2018).
Roy Clark

American country singer and multi-instrumentalist, who should be nicknamed "Mr. Fast Hand" by analogy with Eric Clapton's nickname "Mr. Slow Hand." Check out his performances of "12th Street Rag" (Jimmy Dean Show 1964) and "John Henry." He lived for 85 years from 1933 to 2018.
Pinetop Perkins

American blues and boogie-woogie pianist, who should be nicknamed "Grandfather of Rock & Roll Piano" because he inspired a generation of boogie-woogie pianists and taught Ike Turner, who in 1951 played piano on "Rocket 88," widely regarded as the first rock & roll song. He lived for 97 years from 1913 to 2011.

The Newcomers

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Gerard Way

Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and co-founder of the alternative rock band My Chemical Romance, which formed in September 2001 and disbanded in March 2013.... read more

"King of Emo" and "King of Emo-Pop".
?
Toby Keith

Toby Keith Covel, known professionally as Toby Keith (July 8, 1961 - February 5, 2024), was an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and actor. He released 19 studio albums and 61 singles, with 20 reaching number one on the Billboard charts. He was posthumously inducted... read more

He should've been nicknamed the King of '90s Country. His song Should've Been a Cowboy was the top country song of the 1990s, hitting #1.
He lost a battle with stomach cancer on February 5, 2024. R.I.P. (1961-2024).

The Contenders

Arturo Toscanini

Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 to January 16, 1957) was an Italian conductor. He was one of the most acclaimed and influential musicians of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, renowned for his intensity, perfectionism, ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his eidetic memory.... read more

Italian conductor, who should be nicknamed "Mr. Sharp Ear and Memory." He lived for 89 years from 1867 to 1957.
Giacomo Lauri-Volpi

Italian tenor, who should be nicknamed "Hero of Opera" because his vocals were so powerful that their vibrations could be felt in the top gallery of La Scala, as Franco Corelli mentioned in an interview. Check out his 1942 performance of the aria "Esultate." He lived for 86 years from 1892 to 1979.
Amelita Galli-Curci

Italian coloratura soprano, who should be nicknamed "Angel of Coloratura." Check out her rendition of the aria "Sempre libera." She lived for 81 years from 1882 to 1963.
Disturbed

Disturbed is an American alternative metal, nu-metal, and hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois. The band consists of vocalist David Draiman, bassist John Moyer, guitarist Dan Donegan, and drummer Mike Wengren.
They are known for hit songs such as "Down with the Sickness," "Stricken," and a powerful... read more
Linkin Park

Linkin Park is an American alternative rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The current members include Mike Shinoda (vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar), Brad Delson (guitar), Dave "Phoenix" Farrell (bass), Joe Hahn (DJ), Emily Armstrong (vocals), and Colin Brittain (drums). Linkin Park... read more

They should've been nicknamed the Manly Punks of Teen.
Vangelis

Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, known professionally as Vangelis, was a Greek composer known for his work in electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, and orchestral music. He gained international fame for composing the scores for films such as Chariots of Fire and Blade Runner. Vangelis was widely... read more

He should be nicknamed The Greek King of Soundtracks, The King of Slow Motion Scores, and The King of Championships. He was known for the score of the film Blade Runner, but best known for the score of the film Chariots of Fire.
He should also be nicknamed The Greek King of Electronica, as he was one of the pioneers of electronic music. He lived from 1943 to 2022 until his 79th year.
R.I.P. to the king, Vangelis.
Loreena McKennitt

Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt is a Canadian musician, composer, harpist, accordionist, and pianist who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. She is best known for her album The Book of Secrets (1997), which includes the international hit The Mummers' Dance... read more

She should be nicknamed the Gold Angel of New Age. Her appearance and voice give her a deserving potential nickname.
Michel Baumann

He should be nicknamed The Child of House. He had been DJing since he was a child and produced EDM throughout his life, including deep house. He influenced countless artists, including the biggest names. Music will never be the same without him. He was only 24.
R.I.P. (1997-2021).
Ghostemane
Meat Loaf

Michael Lee Aday (born Marvin Lee Aday. September 27, 1947 - January 20, 2022), better known by his stage name Meat Loaf, was an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He was recognized for his powerful, wide-ranging voice and theatrical live performances.... read more

He was already nicknamed The One Off, so he should also be nicknamed King of Shock Rock given his impact on the horror-style subgenre of rock (which Alice Cooper pioneered and became the Godfather of).
He should also be nicknamed The Opera and Playwright of Rock & Roll.
R.I.P. (1948-2022).
Kanye West

Ye (born Kanye Omari West. June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. He is regarded as one of the most influential and controversial artists of the 21st century.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West initially gained fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella... read more

He should be nicknamed the King of Narcissism. He acts like he's Jesus (or Yeezus in his case) and that the world is centered on him. He isn't the center in reality.
Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli is an Italian classical crossover tenor, recording artist, and singer-songwriter. Born with congenital glaucoma, he became permanently blind at the age of 12 following a football accident. He has sold more than 75 million records worldwide and is known for blending opera and pop music... read more

He should be nicknamed the Operatic Voice of the Blind and the Blind King of Classical Crossover.
Mushroomhead

Mushroomhead is an American nu metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1993 in the Cleveland Warehouse District, the band is known for their avant-garde sound, which combines heavy metal, art rock, and electro-industrial influences. They are also recognized for their elaborate masks, costumes, and... read more
UnSaid Fate
Jeffrey Hatrix