I've been thinking, I've been thinking...
Madonna is the supreme Queen of the music industry. Best-selling female artist of all time (as per Guiness World Records), most successful singles solo artist of all time (as per Billboard Magazine), massive cultural impact, massive impact in pop music, videos, performances, and how women operate in the music and entertainment industries. One of the cornerstone legends of modern music along with Elvis, MJ, and The Beatles, and the only woman at that level.
You can see it in how, even now, she is able to get an entire episode of chat shows to herself (like her appearance earlier this year on the Jonathan Ross show), and how, despite no hits in years, she's able to book a solo Grammy performance unlike pretty much every other 'oldies' act. She has that MEGA stature that no other female artist really has.
So far none have challenged that position.
But what about Adele?
Her success is ASTRONOMICAL. Even with the decline in sales, 21 is bigger than any Madonna album, even The Immaculate Collection. And she's getting TV exposure of the kind only Madonna among female artists was getting, and by that I mean entire programmes created for her to give an interview in (like her upcoming NBC special).
Is it possible that, if Adele continues ruthlessly gunning for success like she's doing now, she will surpass Madonna to become THE all-time supreme female artist of the music industry? Is the only one who can do it?
Or does she lack the cultural impact? Does she lack the influence in performance and videos? Is she too 'just about the music' to truly get to that level?
Discuss.