I have always been fascinated by this observation

When you look at the top-selling music acts of the modern era, the North American ones are almost always solo artists, while the others are almost always groups. In the top 22, there are only five exceptions - mostly American rockers like Metallica, the Eagles, Van Halen and Aerosmith.

1. The Beatles - English - Group
2. Garth Brooks - American - Solo
3. Elvis Presley - American -Solo
4. Led Zeppelin - English - Group
5. The Eagles - American - Group
6. Billy Joel - American - Solo
7. Michael Jackson - American - Solo
8. Elton John - English - Solo
9. Pink Floyd - English - Group
10. AC/DC - Australian - Group
11. George Strait - American - Solo
12. Barbara Streisand - American - Solo
13. The Rolling Stones - English - Group
14. Aerosmith - American - Group
15. Bruce Springstein - American - Solo
16. Madonna - American - Solo
17. Mariah Carey - American - Solo
18. Metallica - American - Group
19. Whitney Houston - American - Solo
20. Van Halen - American - Group
21. U2 - Irish - Group
22. Celine Dion - Canadian - Solo

The trend gets tricky to track at 23, because Fleetwood Mac was a supergroup compiled from an English blues band and an American folk duo. And in the age of streaming, it's impossible to figure out where a modern star like Rihanna might fit in. But I feel like we have a large enough sample size to make for some interesting dinner party conversation.

It might be as simple as this. If you grow up watching The Beatles, you start looking for bandmates. If you grow up watching Elvis, you think you're supposed to make it on your own.

Or it might be more complex. There might be long running cultural trends at play. America's fascination with celebrity and rugged individualism, for instance. I don't know the answer. But it's fun to think about.