Is this Ohio's most famous band? This Duo tops Business Insider list

Ask Ohio music fans to name the state's most famous band, and you'll likely get different answers. Some might mention The Black Keys or Devo from Northeast Ohio. Others might say Cincinnati's The National (recently named among the best living songwriters by The New York Times) or The Isley Brothers.

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What is the story about?

Ask Ohio music fans to name the state's most famous band, and you'll likely get different answers. Some might mention The Black Keys or Devo from Northeast Ohio. Others might say Cincinnati's The National (recently named among the best living songwriters by The New York Times) or The Isley Brothers.

But Business Insider recently looked to central Ohio as it made its choice.

From a sold-out upcoming Ohio Stadium show in October 2026 to chart success and major awards, the publication said one group has built a case as the most famous band to come from the Buckeye State.

Here's who earned the top spot.

Twenty One Pilots named Ohio's most famous band

Josh Dun (L) and Tyler Joseph of Twenty One Pilots accept the Best Rock/Alternative Artist award.

Columbus duo Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun earned the title as Ohio's most famous band, with Business Insider highlighting its combination of alternative

rock, hip-hop and electronic music.

The publication pointed to the band's 2015 breakthrough album, "Blurryface," which produced hits including "Stressed Out," "Ride" and "Heathens."

The band has also earned widespread recognition, including a Grammy Award for best pop duo/group performance in 2017 for "Stressed Out," along with multiple Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards.

Business Insider also highlighted other honorable mentions from Ohio, including The Isley Brothers and The Black Keys (but made no mention of Akron-born Chrissie Hynde or Cleveland hip-hop legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony).

How the publication made its picks

Business Insider says it weighed reputation, record sales, and awards to determine which band left the biggest overall mark in each state.

While the ranking excluded solo artists, Business Insider said it considered any musical act with more than one member to be a band. It primarily considered where a band formed, while also weighing where its music took off and the communities that shaped it.