With athletes, celebrities and fans from across the world gathered in London for the 2012 Summer Olympics, we thought the time was right to celebrate the artists that have made their home countries most proud by winning gold (records) and making a lasting, global impact on the music world.
By using a combination of Billboard chart data, Nielsen SoundScan sales numbers, and a little secret editorial sauce of our own making, the Billboard.com team attempted to pinpoint the most important and influential musician(s) to emerge from 40 countries around the world. Some choices were no-brainers (who but the Beatles could represent England?), while other led to all-out office brawls (which is one reason why there are four artists representing the U.S.A.). The task was far from easy, but when the dust finally settled, we were left with a list that we stand firmly behind and (mostly) agree on.
Do you think we succeeded? Click through the gallery to see our picks, and feel free to agree or disagree with our choices in the comments section below.
More Olympics-Themed Features:
Olympics Gallery: 17 Musicians Carry The Torch
Olympics Opening Ceremony: Union Jack Jukebox With McCartney, Arctic Monkeys + Best of Britain
Duran Duran, Snow Patrol Kick Off Olympic Concerts In Hyde Park
Ask Billboard: Olympic Sized Gold (Medal) Records
Gallery: Top 50 Stars of the 50 States
Text by Brennan Carley, M. Tye Comer, Jessica Letkemann, Jason Lipshutz, Sarah Maloy, Carolyn Menyes and Erika Ramirez.