This document compares the careers of Madonna and Lady Gaga. Both artists were controversial and innovative trendsetters, though Lady Gaga benefited more from social media marketing which did not exist in Madonna's early career. While their first 23 months in the music industry were similar in success, Lady Gaga had slightly better chart performance. Technology has helped artists market their music more than it has hindered album sales. Overall this comparison shows that Lady Gaga has been more commercially successful thanks in part to new digital marketing tools.

1. Music’s
Transition into
the Digital Age
Madonna vs. Lady Gaga
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

2. Madonna
born Madonna Louise Ciccone on August 16, 1958
First Album Released
in 1983
“Madonna”
Source:Flickr-
luizfernando_

3. Lady Gaga
born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta on March 28, 1986
First Album Released in 2008
Source:Flickr-
Domain Barnyard

4. Text
According to Rolling Stone,
Madonna "[is] one of the
greatest pop acts of all time".
Since Lady Gaga came onto the scene in 2008,
many comparisons have been made between
her and Madonna.
Image:Flickr-
Madonna_Man_1980

5. How similar are they?
It can be argued
that they are...
-both controversial
and eccentric
-both innovative
in trendsetting
-both talented
and original
Source:Flickr-
YaleNogueira

6. It has even been
contested that some of
Lady Gaga’s songs are
merely a reconstruction
of Madonna’s.
For example; Lady Gaga’s Born this Way
and Madonna’s Express Yourself
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

7. With that being said, it is fair to say we can use these
two artists to contrast and compare their careers.
How do they compare and how do they differ?
Image:Source-
judiciaryreport.com

8. Twenty-five years after Madonna’s
self titled album hit stores, Lady
Gaga emerged as a musician in a
completely different era.
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

9. Gone was the age of records.
Even CDs were being replaced by MP3s on iPods.
vinyl record
CD sales dropped nearly 50% from their peak in 2000.
Source:Flickr-
FourthFloor

10. How different was it for a rising artist in the 1980’s
compared to the 2000’s?
Does Lady Gaga have an advantage?
Source:Flickr-
wanderingone

11. Madonna had many innovative
music videos which helped her
to reach her height in popularity.
first aired in 1981.
Catchy songs just didn’t cut it
anymore and Madonna was
ahead of the game.
Image:Flickr-
YaleNogueira

12. In 2008, Lady Gaga had many more
marketing tools than Madonna.
came out in 2005.
Madonna and Lady Gaga both
had TV and the radio. But Lady
Gaga also had;
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

13. Did this lack of social media marketing affect Madonna’s
sales compared to Lady Gaga’s?
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

14. According to Billboard.com,
In the first 23 months of Madonna’s career,
Billboard Top 100: 8 entries, 7 top 10s and 2 Number 1s
Billboard Top 200: 8 entries, 7 top 10s and 2 Number 1s
Dance Club/Play Songs: 5 entries, 5 top 10s and 3 Number 1s
Source:Flickr-
HawkinsThiel

15. According to Billboard.com,
In the first 23 months of Lady Gaga’s career,
Billboard Top 100: 10 entries, 7 top 10s and 2 Number 1s
Billboard Top 200: 8 entries, 7 top 10s
Dance Club/Play Songs: 8 entries, 8 top 10s and 7 Number 1s
Source:Flickr-
DeclanTM

16. Although very close, Lady Gaga has had a more
successful first 23 months.
Can social media marketing account for
Lady Gaga’s successful beginning?
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

17. Artists in the digital age are aware of the need to stay up to date.
In the Denver Post, Mary J. Blige stated, "I
think it changes how you market your music, in order to get it
out there, you have to know some of the technology.
It's different."
Source:Flickr-
SGarin

18. Technology is a great marketing tool for musicians.
However, one might wonder if technology has
hindered these same artists’ album sales.
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

19. Image:Flickr-
Madonna_Man_1980
Since 1983,
Madonna has sold
over 10 million
copies of her debut
album worldwide.
Since 2008, Lady Gaga
has sold over
12 million copies
of her debut album
worldwide. Image:Source-
pran.ucoz.com

20. In conclusion, this comparison shows
Lady Gaga coming out on top and that
technology is helping the music
industry more than it is hindering.
Where will technology bring artists like Madonna
and Lady Gaga in the next twenty-five years?
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins

21. Made by: Emily Makinson
Information current on
May 20th 2011
Sources
Gaga Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga
Madonna Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(entertainer)
Text
Image:Flickr-
justinalepins