List of Madonna records and achievements
American singer-songwriter Madonna, throughout her career, spanning five decades, has obtained a remarkable series of statistical achievements during the album era, setting and breaking several world records with her participation in entrepreneurial activities, of acting and her performance in the musical scene for her videos, singles, albums, and tours.
Her first appearance in the Guinness Book of World Records was in 1986 with her third studio album, True Blue. Thereafter she has earned multiple appearances, including her title as the world's best-selling female recording artist, recognized since the 20th century. As of February 2012, she retained 20 entries at the same time in the Guinness World Records,[1] a very similar figure obtained by Paul McCartney in 2003; the highest number of record holding at same time by a musician with 26.[2]
In a multiple-decades long period, her statistics and numbers achieved scrutiny beyond music industry, including business and marketing communities. In 1992, Bob Tannenbaum from The New York Times called to her as "the most statistically significant artist of the 80s".[3] Madonna was also nicknamed variously for her success in different formats and charts, including from Billboard staffers. However, she also scored some less favorable records, such as the most Golden Raspberry won by a woman or then the largest drop by a number-one album in the Nielsen SoundScan period during its second week.
Madonna made appearance at various anniversaries of record charts, including some of major music markets, where attained notable high positions. In Germany, she was named "the most successful singles artist" by GfK Entertainment charts and in the United States, she was called "the most successful solo artist of the Billboard Hot 100", as well "the most successful act of the Dance Club Songs" and fifth "Greatest Chart All-Stars" (all charts combined). The Guinness also recognized her as the most successful US DVD chart artist. Madonna was named by Official Charts Company (OCC) as "the most successful female artist in UK charts history". She was named the most successful female artist in the history of RPM charts, in Canada, and by Music & Media in continental Europe.
Critical commentaries[edit]
In a multiple decades-long period, her records, achievements and statistics were relatively often commented by press, and other observers, including business community. Roger Blackwell is an example.[4] In 1992, Bob Tannenbaum from The New York Times called her "the most statistically significant artist of the 80s",[3] while in 2019, Vanessa Grigoriadis from the same publication called her the "world's highest-charting female musician".[5] In 2008, Damian Corless from Irish Independent referred to her "stunning vital statistics",[6] while rock music journalist John Tobler, complimented her records compared to other male artists in 1991.[7] Nina Simosko from American business magazine Fast Company made a similar comparative in 2008,[8] and in 2013, The Cut editor Rebecca Harrington paraphrasing said, "Madonna's actual accomplishments are too much for the modern human to even contemplate".[9] Greg Seigworth, complimented her numbers overseas,[10] and both Ray B. Browne and William Labov referred to her "unprecedented regularity" to reach the top of the pop charts for decades.[11]
Music writer Dave McAleer, made the question in Chart Beats (1991): "Does Madonna cherish all the records she has broken?".[12] Madonna herself has responded to various journalists including Simon Garfield and Howard Stern, when they asked about her numbers, sales, awards and records. She often expressed that awards "are overrated" and admits she pays no heed to her accolades, accomplishments or chart positions, claiming "I'd rather be distantly aware of it than putting too much importance to it" and "I don't focus on my accomplishments, I focus on things I haven't done yet".[13][14][15][16] Carrie Havranek, wrote in Women Icons of Popular Music (2009), that she "is not necessarily interested when her manager tells her how quickly a concert has sold out; she is more interested in whether she is satisfied with it as an artistic achievement".[17] Some media outlets have reported in various opportunities how she was "nonchalant" for receiving some honors, including United Press International in 1987, and also for declining her Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990.[18][19]