Madonna's Impact On The Music Industry!

Record companies seized creative control and made a habit of putting an artist’s vision last. Artists were crippled by the music industry’s power. The record companies ruled everything from what the artist wore to where the artist toured. A common practice in the music industry was to pay the artist last. Long term this impacted the music industry and the artist’s legacy. Madonna carved a new path in the music industry. Madonna learned taking risks on herself paid off. She revolutionized the industry by famously declaring on Dick Clark, host of American Bandstand, she was ready to “rule the world.”

Amazingly, the music industry wasn’t banking on Madonna’s success. Warner Brothers sought to retain the creative freedom of the fledgling artist. Madonna’s vision was all out war on the music industry. Madonna’s knack for capturing emotion in her music. Her street smarts and dance style became a craze. Everyone became crazy for her. The music industry was about to embrace the entire Madonna package. She was somewhat rebellious. Her rebellion captured by Randy J. Tamborelli, “she was willing to fight.” Risk wasn’t just a factor it was part of Madonna’s strategy to prove she wasn’t just a one hit wonder. She determined what she wore, what she said and proved a fearless competitor for an industry that kept artistic freedom from musicians, singers, and songwriters.

Through her music and the advent of MTV, Madonna’s self-expression was fearless. Issues such as race, sex, and power deemed taboo are a staple of Madonna’s music. She didn’t care that she ticked off the Catholic Church with burning crosses in “Like a Prayer.” Radio, television and MTV sometimes sought to ban her music citing it was too controversial or racy. Those elements made audiences want to see it even more. Later, all outlets boasted that they would be the first to play the controversial song or show the video it in an appropriate time slot, sending ratings for all through the roof.

Impulse, sound, vibration and vision through the use of music and videos transmitted directly into the collective conscious. Madonna provides freedom through creative expression. Three decades later Madonna’s attitude and the way she did business changed the way the music industry treats artists. Madonna wasted no time in developing a record label of her own as well as helped up and coming artists attain recognition in the mainstream. Madonna doesn’t have to prove anything to the music industry. Her legacy as the Queen of Pop is cemented, not only in the music industry but the universe.