And I’m a fan of Mary J. too. Big fan. But I don’t think she’s in this discussion. You could ask 100 people on the street and not find one who could name one of her songs. Or point her out of a lineup. Part of being the Queen of Popular Music has to be having music that’s popular.

All jokes aside, I agree with the comment. The same way Mike wasn’t killing it with every album at the end, but was still the king of pop, is the way Janet is now. She’s not killing it with every album (no Janet lovers, just because you think every album is banging, its not) but she holds the title till she gives it up.

If Beyonce can’t surpass all that Janet Jackson has accomplished then what makes you think she is anywhere near MJ? What a joke LMAO

when is Beyonce gonna do this ……

Janet Jackson Firsts

First female artist to have the #1 selling album of the year (Rhythm Nation 1814, 1990)

First female artist to debut atop the Billboard 200 in the SoundScan era (Janet., 1993)

First black artist to be nominated for the Producer of the Year Grammy

First black female artist to be nominated for an Academy Award

***griffn edit: Really appreciate your feedback, but in the future please just post a link to the page you’re referring to instead of posting the entire thing verbatim (you can use HTML tags). Your point is taken, and I agree Janet belongs in the discussion. But she’s sold half the albums of Mariah and Whitney. As for putting her up against Beyonce, I haven’t heard Janet on the radio in, like, ten years. I heard Beyonce on the radio this morning reading the newspaper. Not really, but you get my point. If anybody’s gonna get in the Queen of Pop discussion without having been on the radio in ten years, it’s Whitney, not Janet. And Mariah was just on the radio last year, so… That’s all I’m saying. Janet’s in the discussion, but she doesn’t get the crown.

Michael Jackson sold 50 million copies of Thriller. More importantly, to do that, he had to stay at the top of the charts – CONSISTENTLY – for over a year. Which means that everyday for over a year a ton of folks were running out and buying a Thriller.

Which means you have to be in the public consciousness for a year AND everyone love you and not get sick of you.

Which means you have to have enough hot fuckin songs on your record to make people want to go buy it. And the singles as well.

This just doesn’t happen anymore. There aren’t artists right now that everyone just loves and supports consistently.

Mike created a lane and then basically made it impossible for anyone to get into it.

Interestingly, in terms of cultural, creative, and commercial impact the only person who is even similar to Mike is Mary J. Blige. She’s beloved by a lot of people (although it being overpopulated by black woman is what keeps her from being truly Mike-like), loved by the industry, and makes consistently good music. Her impact on how women sing popular music is unparalleled. I don’t think she’s quite Mike, but her impact on the game is similar (albeit on a much much smaller scale).