Here are this month’s lists of the top 20 band / artist searches sending traffic to social networking sites (e.g. MySpace, YouTube, Last.fm, etc.) and the most popular music blogs for the 4 weeks ending August 2nd. First up social networks, and the top 2 entries, Basshunter and Biffy Clyro, have both had successful summers in the charts and have been in our top 20 for a number of months. The release of High School Musical 3 has led to a surge on interest in the Disney film / stage show, while Mamma Mia has also helped Abba enter the list at number 19. More evidence of the benefit of cross media promotion is the appearance of Hamfatter, the band that recently secured funding on the BBC show Dragons’ Den, at number 20.

1. Basshunter (6)
2. Biffy Clyro (14)
3. High School Musical (New)
4. Jordin Sparks (New)
5. Gabriella Cilmi (8)
6. Noah and the Whale (New)
7. Jonas Brothers (2)
8. Kid Rock (New)
9. Mcfly (New)
10. Slipknot (New)
11. The Ting Tings (9)
12. Katy Perry (New)
13. Tristan Spencer (7)
14. Blackout Crew (New)
15. Chris Brown (New)
16. Dizzee Rascal (New)
17. Pendulum (New)
18. Fleet Foxes (18)
19. Abba (New)
20. Hamfatter (New)

Looking at the top searches sending traffic to music blogs, there are three artists that appear on both lists: Noah and the Whale, Jonas Brothers and Dizzee Rascal / Calvin Harris, who until last week were at number one in the singles chart. Mark Ronson is a new entry at number one thanks to his recent festival appearances and a UK tour supporting Jay-Z. Another new entry in the top 10 is The Streets, who are returning to the limelight after a couple of years with new album, Everything Is Borrowed, and a free download.

1. Mark Ronson (New)
2. Calvin Harris (3)
3. Bloc Party (New)
4. Bowling for Soup (New)
5. Kids in Glass Houses (New)
6. Lily Allen (7)
7. Noah and the Whale (New)
8. Slipknot (14)
9. The Streets (New)
10. Vampire Weekend (4)
11. Hot Leg (New)
12. Gnarls Barkley (New)
13. Jonas brothers (1)
14. José Vanders (New)
15. Kate Nash (New)
16. Laura Marling (New)
17. Mgmt (New)
18. Mindless Self Indulgence (New)
19. Radio Slave (New)
20. Scenario Rock (New)

Robin Goad

Robin Goad is Research Director, Hitwise UK. This piece was originally published on Hitwise analyst blog here.