There was a time when the Queen of Pop honor was commonly associated with Madonna. However, as the icon’s impact on the charts began to wane during the last decade, several younger contenders emerged in the race for the coveted title that would rank them among the greatest acts of their generation.

Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Rihanna and others have all made an enormous impact on popular culture, and with a string of monster hits to their credit, they have left a mark on the industry that won’t soon be forgotten. Of course, there were other female acts who dominated the music scene both shortly before and even during the time of the younger crowd, and they easily challenged Madonna for that ultimate propaganda title.

So, this week’s Way Back Wednesday will briefly shine a spotlight on the contributions of each great female act as we attempt to name the real Queen of Pop. Check out the list below:

Beyonce

Beyonce’s chart success has become increasingly inconsistent during the last five years but thanks to clever marketing and the massive media machine operating a her command, most of her ignorant fans will never know. In fact, despite not scoring a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 since appearing Lady Gaga’s “Telephone” in 2010, Beyonce’s concerts still attract crowds in the thousands and her name remains a mainstay in the headlines. If she isn’t the Queen of Pop based on record sales, she certainly is a contender for the title as a result of her forced omnipresence in the media.

Britney Spears

Britney Spears exploded onto the music scene in the late 1990s and quickly garnered blockbuster record sales that topped 100 million. Every song she released topped the charts across the globe, her videos ruled the airwaves and her performances received top billing at every award show as young fans eagerly tuned in to watch her every move.

Even after her notorious public meltdown, Spears still outsold many of her peers as public fascination with her brand remained generally intact. Who else but Spears could walk around onstage, blatantly lip-sync, forget her choreography and still pack an arena to its maximum capacity?

Janet Jackson

While Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey battled Madonna on the charts, Janet Jackson also rumbled with her archenemy on the tour circuit. Her Rhythm Nation 1814 World Tour ranks as one of the most successful debut tours of all time and she was the only female act of the 1990s to challenge Madonna at the box office.

Jackson’s impact also extended to other areas of popular culture, and the styling of her janet. and The Velvet Rope eras are repeatedly imitated by the current crop of visual artists. We can’t forget that Jackson was also an incredible dancer and her famous routines are second only to her brother Michael.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Minogue started her career as Australia’s answer to Madonna but she soon developed her own identity as a force on the global scene. Often imitated by Beyonce – see the 2007 BET Awards performance of “Get Me Bodied” – this entertainer influence through stunning visuals, tour productions and performances remains constant. Minoque never has to try to remain relevant because the people who copy her work do that for her.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga took the music scene by storm with her debut in 2008 and instantly became an icon for a generation of Pop fans eager to find the next big thing. Three years has since passed and she still has their attention as the social media giant known as Mother Monster.

Additionally, Gaga has used her voice as a tool for social change by rallying for the rights of the LGBTQI community. Being the Queen of Pop is about more than dominating fashion trends and selling records; it also involves engaging music fans on a personal level. That’s probably why Gaga has accumulated over thirty-nine followers on Twitter.

Madonna

Thus far, every artist on this list has been compared to Madonna and that only emphasises the vast reach of her influence. From record sales to tours and behind the scenes business ventures, no other female act in history has matched the overall impact of this industry giant who redefined what it means to be a woman both in the old and new millennium.

Madonna conceived the MTV generation while dry humping the stage at the 1984 MTV VMA and lead them into the 21st century by constantly reinventing herself as an artist. Her career may have had many peaks and valleys but she still commands the biggest tour grosses of any solo performer in the world, proving that she has what it takes to survive another three hundred years in this business.

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey has sold over two hundred million records and notched a record eighteen #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 as the most successful female artist of her generation. Yet, what is most remarkable about her commercial success is that she achieved it without the support of extensive touring.

Indeed, people have always been most interested in Carey’s music and the sound of her unmatched five octave voice. Madonna and Janet Jackson’s visuals may be the most imitated by younger performers, but it is Carey’s signature sound that reigns supreme on the airwaves today as acts attempt to clone the Hip-Pop subgenre she pioneered in the 1990s and the singing style that gave her music reach to almost every demographic.

Pink

Beyonce’s team wants you to think that she is the greatest female entertainer of her generation but that title arguably belongs to Pink. Without ever lip-sycing a note, this edgy star dances, flips and even flies through the air during tours that outperform those of her contemporaries at the box office.

Also, unlike Beyonce and Christina Aguilera, Pink’s record sales have remained consistant and her singles continue soar to the top of charts. How has she outlasted her competition? Pink’s music is a reflection of who she is an artist and human being, and the messages of her songs give voice to people of all ages. Most importantly, she doesn’t rely on gross propaganda to sell music. Instead, Pink just sings.

Rihanna

Rihanna isn’t a talented singer and she definitely can’t dance but the people are obsessed with her. Without much effort at all, she has nabbed twelve Billboard Hot 100 #1 songs and she has shown few signs that her stay on the charts will end in the near future.

What is the key to Rihanna’s reign? Similar to Lady Gaga, she knows how to relate to her fans and happily interacts with them on social media. To people under the age of thirty years, Rihanna is one of their homegirls and buying her music is likened to supporting a friend instead of a distant Pop superstar.

Whitney Houston

In the 1980s, Whitney Houston scored seven consecutive #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and took Donna Summer’s brand of the big-voiced Pop star to an entirely new level. With the guidance of Clive Davis, Houston became an icon and in The Bodyguard era of 1992, she temporarily reigned as the most popular entertainer on the planet.

Houston wasn’t heavily involved in the creative process of her hits but her voice was the vehicle that ushered in a new era of melodramatic, overblown divas eager to belt their way to the top of the charts. Furthermore, Houston was a successful touring artist, and she wasn’t afraid to do a quick two-step as she generated millions in revenue for her label and songwriters across the globe.

Who is the Queen of Pop? Why is she better than the others? Who should have been added to this list? Vote in the Way Back Wednesday poll and share your opinion!