Jackson, Beatles make great artist list

The list was determined by a poll of well-known music artists and industry experts.

With Jim Shearer serving as host, the program is to have a two-hour premiere Sept. 6.

"In 1998, VH1 launched the same list as the channel's first countdown special; however; much has changed since the dawn of the new millennium. VH1 puts this debate up for a vote again to see which rock pioneers still matter and which new acts rate in the age of download-to-own music and ever-changing pop culture. The countdown will include special, rarely-seen performance footage along with brand new, totally original interviews with music's most famous faces," the network said in a news release Tuesday.

The top 5 in alphabetical order are The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones.

Ranked Nos. 6-10 are Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Elvis Presley, James Brown and Stevie Wonder.

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