alexrex Posted October 30 Posted October 30 The answer is Taylor. She has the biggest tour ever. She's a billionaire. Madonnna had a good run though, so good for her. 1 8
.Odyssey. Posted October 30 Posted October 30 That picture of Madonna is so iconic. It still slays me so hard that she's putting out looks like that in the last year. 1
TYMPS Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Taylor has ZERO iconic looks - That ALONE disqualifies her from this debate And then there's the recent trite af music... 3 2 2
Janet Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Taylor if you only care about "economical impact" and stats Madonna if you're more interested in cultural impact 6
swissman Posted October 30 Posted October 30 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Trent W said: Madonna is just the biggest female pop star all time Taylor will sell more, but I wouldn't categorize Taylor as a pop star, she's more of just a songwriter/musician Taylor will be the biggest female all time in music of that makes sense But Madonna will have her legacy intact Each one will have its own title I'm curious why you think Taylor would not be categorized as a popstar. She is pretty much the pop ideal: pretty, cute, relatable, makes easily digested non-controversial music packaged by big budget music videos and flashy costumes and stage performances, centred by a cult of fame to match. And at least based on what she releases as singles, most of her work falls into the pop category of catchy hooks and snappy one-liners meant to arouse the masses. And perhaps the most controversial musical choice she's made is going full pop, so I don't know if the category "songwriter/musician" is better fitting than "popstar", as the latter is first and foremost how she is recognized by almost everyone who knows her. Edited October 30 by swissman 1
mike_int Posted October 30 Posted October 30 26 minutes ago, Badgalbriel said: Madonna for now, but Taylor is surpassing her very soon. If her next tour is half as big as the Eras Tour, that's still enough to make her the biggest solo artist of all time. I dont think revenue from tours is good way how to measure success. Concert tickets in 80 were like 15 dollars and about 30 in 90s and not more than 50 in early 2000s. 2
mike_int Posted October 30 Posted October 30 (edited) The fact Madonna is 40+ years in her career and she is still considered for epitome of a star and measuring point of success and influence is the answer to this question. It is Madonna and there is no question about it. People dont realize how huge her stardom must have been (and is) to have such impact in 80s,90s and early 2000s without internet and social media. Everything was different, people actually had to make an effort and buy magazines, buy CDs, buy vinyls nothing was accessible as now. It had much bigger value than now Edited October 30 by mike_int 3 5
The7thStranger Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Madonna in terms of cultural impact. Taylor in terms of numbers.
Trent W Posted October 30 Posted October 30 16 minutes ago, swissman said: I'm curious why you think Taylor would not be categorized as a popstar. She is pretty much the pop ideal: pretty, cute, relatable, makes easily digested non-controversial music packaged by big budget music videos and flashy costumes and stage performances, centred by a cult of fame to match. And at least based on what she releases as singles, most of her work falls into the pop category of catchy hooks and snappy one-liners meant to arouse the masses. And perhaps the most controversial musical choice she's made is going full pop, so I don't know if the category "songwriter/musician" is better fitting than "popstar", as the latter is first and foremost how she is recognized by almost everyone who knows her. Her first 4 eras were country, then switched but wasn't originally one And imo she doesn't follow the blueprint of a pop star in the way Madonna, Britney, Gaga or other icons do Taylor is more of a musician that does pop music of that makes sense 2
Feanor Posted October 30 Posted October 30 It's still Madonna. No one else has 40+ years of that kind of success on their resume. But once Taylor herself also reaches her 50s/60s, I think it'll be her.
WEEKND Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Madonna is still the bigger hitmaker. Taylor will win in the end tho
Disconnect Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Y'all are doing too much, ofc Madonna is bigger NOW. She's 66 and Taylor is 34. We'll compare them when Madonna is gone and Taylor is her age and I think by then it will be obvious that Taylor was bigger. 1
swissman Posted October 30 Posted October 30 59 minutes ago, Trent W said: Her first 4 eras were country, then switched but wasn't originally one And imo she doesn't follow the blueprint of a pop star in the way Madonna, Britney, Gaga or other icons do Taylor is more of a musician that does pop music of that makes sense Taylor's first albums may have been country, but they were also country-pop. I see your point, but either way she 100% morphed into a popstar and has been one ever since. When I think "singersongwriter/musician" I think of people like Carole King or Fiona Apple, neither of whom despite commercial success have ever been even 1/100th as mass-marketed as Taylor, whose albums have been advertised on everything from Papa John's pizza boxes to Amazon packages. I think a popstar is defined as a commercial-leaning artist whose career and output is supported by, catered to or necessitates mass consumption as evidenced in everything from music/lyrics to persona to visual aesthetics to marketing tactics. Madonna, Britney and Gaga all share stylistic similarities, but those don't define a popstar imo. Drake is a popstar. Avril Lavigne is a popstar. Sam Smith is a popstar. Adele is a popstar. etc. etc. and all of them share little with the idea of a popstar as defined by Madonna.
shyboi Posted October 30 Author Posted October 30 1 hour ago, Trent W said: Madonna is just the biggest female pop star all time Taylor will sell more, but I wouldn't categorize Taylor as a pop star, she's more of just a songwriter/musician Taylor will be the biggest female all time in music of that makes sense But Madonna will have her legacy intact Each one will have its own title Taylor is a pop star as well
Paddy Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Madonna. It's two incomparable situations. Madonna came out in the 80s, had to fight for the limited spotlight artists had at the time, and she craved the pop superstar thing for all the females to follow ever since. She broke the rules, pushed the boundary, turned tours into a musical and theatrical extravagance. She is the blueprint for a reason. Taylor on the other hand made herself into something that is very difficult in a streaming era, she did the impossible and did it so perfectly. But I can't even imagine how Madonna would do on streaming if that was available back in the 80s. 2 2
UnusualBoy Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Taylor will eventually pass her in terms of commercial success and stats but Madonna will always be the print, the way she opened doors and went against the flow will make it untouchable in that regard forever. 2
HarajukuPrincess Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Love both, but Madonna's stats are...more solid for lack of a better word. Like it's not Tay's fault being in the piracy/streaming era but I don't feel like she'll ever surpass Madonna. And that's simply sales. As far as influence and impact, well there might not be a Tay without a Madge to emulate. 1
cat1867 Posted October 30 Posted October 30 Elton John and Mariah Carey sold more than Madonna but that didn't take away from Madonna being the ultimate pop star. Taylor is both a pop star but also a more classical singer-song writer. She will be remembered as the biggest solo act but not the "biggest pop star" since that isn't her image. 1 1 3
MadOnHer Posted October 30 Posted October 30 4 hours ago, shyboi said: well, i'm glad we all agree that it is in between them two i thought some users were going to try to sneak other names You spoke too soon! 4 hours ago, A Million Lights said: Well I'm sorry but Mariah and Gaga are bigger than these two women… Taylor may fight for third place and Madonna 4th 1
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