What is the correct way to assess the fame and popularity of a musician .? By his/her vocal ability or the theatrics around their music

We have vocalist like Mariah, Celine , Whitney, Aretha etc who made their impact on the world with Power House vocals

Then we have we Artists like Madonna , lady gaga, rihanna, katy perry (No Shade ) who - even with average vocal abilities - have exploded into the scene and have made their mark and mostly know for the trend they set in the scene

What plays a bigger role Vocal ability or the theatrics around for a artist to find success ?

PS: Please don't post receipt of your fav's vocal ability. This is a general assumption

Mostly their images. You don't go far without an image, while it's been proven that you can easily slay the charts without having powerhouse vocals

Both..

I think if you have vocals and theatrics maybe use theatrics more in your performances to solidify yourself in the industry then sway away from the theatrics and concentrate on showing off your vocals later on

aka my fave Miley Ray ha Bangerz era and her new music is said to be more "personal and different from Bangerz"

so I guess that's what she's doing too

a good amount of both, but vocals is always more important to me. however in some cases it's hard to please the public- sometimes when an artist is just singing there they find it boring but when you think of it there are countless of singers here & there that mostly relies on theatrics and it's tacky

i'd say 60% theatrics 40% vocals...Vocals are cute but if you're just going to stand their singing i'l get bored real quick

It depends.

Being an artist in the mainstream music scene entails more than just voice. It has more to do with the entire package meaning the voice, the persona, the artistry, the music, e.t.c
In my opinion, it isn't an option of one or the other but a combination of both. If it was all about voice the opera singers would be slaying the world of music but I do believe that today it has mire to do with image than voice. Even those who have the voice don't entirely depend on it.

Like who?