It is a good time to be a SwiftieA fan of Taylor Swift. . Their hero Taylor Swift is in the middle of her Eras tour. It is on course to being the most successful tour ever.¹ Many of her fans see her as the greatest artist of all time.

But tomorrow, another musical giant will begin her own worldwide tour at London's O2An entertainment area built within the dome of a building that used to be called the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, south east London.: Madonna, the Queen of Pop.

Fans are bitterly divided over who really should hold the title. Swift has more big awards, beating Madonna in both GrammysThe most prestigious award in the US music industry. The trophy is shaped like a gilded gramophone. Last year, Billie Eilish won most of the main awards.² and VMAsThe MTV Video Music Awards³. 

But Madonna has sold more records.⁴ She has had 13 number one singles in the US, while Swift has earned just nine. But Swift wins on overall Billboard Top 40 hits, with 119 to Madonna's 71.

Such comparisons are unfair. Madonna has been active since 1979, Swift since 2004. One came up from New York nightclubs, the other through country musicA music genre that began in southern and southwestern USA. It often includes themes of working class American life. .

Madonna has had a wider impact on culture. From the late 1980s to the mid 2000s, all eyes were on her. Her biggest hits define their time, from Holiday to Like A Prayer, Frozen to Hung Up.

Madonna has changed her music and style, often ahead of the times. She raised the music video to an art form. She created the big budget pop concert tour. And she has spoken out on racism and homophobia.

Swift has been more cautious. She rarely talks about politics. Her music has tended to stay close to her country pop roots, while Madonna tries out everything from jazz to reggaetonA style of popular electronic music that first emerged in Panama in the 1980s. It is popular across the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. .Instead of trying to satisfy everyone, Swift has focused on pleasing her fans. This might be her unique superpower. Most pop stars depict themselves as superhuman. Swift instead promotes how normal she is. Swifties see her as a friend. And this makes her a great artist in a new way.

Yes: Swift writes powerful songs that speak to the heart. But Madonna's decades-long career is full of bold left turns and reinventions. Swift is a star for today. Madonna will be a star forever.

No: From John Donne's poetry to Franz Schubert's songs, great art wears its heart on its sleeve. While Madonna poses and plays dress up, Swift has always expressed her feelings. She is a true artist.

Or... Neither. Madonna and Taylor are queens of pop. But the real empress is Beyonce - while the others have had ups and downs, Beyonce has been on top form for almost 30 years without a single slip-up.