The Idolator Pop Critics Poll surveyed 452 critics (mostly American, with a handful outside the U.S.), who were asked to contribute up to 10 favorite Albums and Tracks and 5 favorite Reissues and Artists. Albums were either given descending points (15-14-13-12-11-9-8-7-6-5) or 10 each (and are noted as such on individual ballots); the other categories were awarded one point per vote. For the final Albums list, point ties were broken by total voter number. More below.

Ties on ballots were disallowed. If a voter put more than one title in a single position, the point went to the first title mentioned. In the reissues category, when multiple albums were included in a box set as well as released individually, single votes for two titles went to the first mentioned, while votes for three or more went to the box set. (Votes for "several" reissues by the same artist were either eliminated or, where applicable, awarded to box sets.) In Artist voting, we mostly observed the no-tie rule, though some of the more creatively phrased votes went to the individuals or groups they referred to or lampooned, while in other cases we handed the vote to the first artist mentioned (e.g. "Kanye Vs. 50").

Some records received carryover votes from the 2006 poll, often due to staggered release dates across national lines. A recording carried its votes over by receiving fully half the votes it did in 2006. Album votes for reissues (by which we meant vault items, regardless of prior release; a name change is due) were transfered to the reissue category; reissue votes for albums were given five points, the smallest amount allowed in album voting. Reissue ballots were specified as off-limits to records under five years old; when those were voted for, we discounted the vote or, where appropriate, awarded the vote (and five points) to the album category. Multiple votes for the same recording or artist were eliminated from tabulation.

The Enthusiasm 40 (actually 51 this year; it was 52 last year) is garnered by dividing the point totals of all albums that received over 150 points divided by the number of people who voted for them. The Album-Only and Album-Plus tallies the top albums named, respectively, by those who declined to vote for tracks and those who voted for them. The Demographic: Sex, Age, and Race are self-explanatory (as most of this is, but tidiness counts), from information volunteered by voters.

The 2007 in the Mix portion of Idolator Pop 07 consists of CD-length (under 80 minutes) playlists, with attending write-ups, from more than 30 of our favorite writers. We think these enhance the package greatly and offer perspectives beyond the confines of the collected and individual Top 10 lists. We hope you like the poll as much as we've enjoyed putting it together (tedious data entry notwithstanding).