The Criteria
What is the criteria that we use to choose the musicians?
“The Greatest of all Time” is a very subjective label. If anyone has seen the various “Best of” lists on Rolling Stone, Guitar World, or Billboard, they have also seen the endless arguments about who made it on the list, who didn’t, and how the authors got the positions all wrong.
The Goats of Music is not about a numbered order of best musicians – instead it is a tribute to those that have been around for years, had a huge impact on their instrument and contributed to their craft in some notable way. On the right is our list of how we choose who gets added to the site as a “Goat”.
Yes, this list too is subjective, but we have to start somewhere. There are amazing newer players out there that are definitely cited in many best of lists out there. We will add them here too, but only if they have made some serious contributions to their instrument in a shorter (<20) number of years.
The Goats of Music Criteria
- Has been in the industry in a notable way for 20 or more years.
- Is often cited by music critics and other notable musicians as a top musician.
- Has moved the needle forward in their space in some significant way.
- Does not have to be a technically proficient player, but has been an innovator in some way (new sound, writer of incredible music, etc.)
