Commonly known as the " Queen of Pop ", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, songwriting and visual presentation. Madonna's works, which incorporate social, political, sexual , and religious themes, have generated both controversy and critical acclaim.
A cultural icon spanning both the 20th and 21st centuries, Madonna has become the subject of various scholarly , literary and artistic works, as well as a mini academic sub-discipline called Madonna studies. Madonna moved to New York City in to pursue a career in dance. Madonna has obtained a total of 18 multi-platinum albums , including Like a Virgin , True Blue , and The Immaculate Collection —which became some of the best-selling albums in history —as well as Confessions on a Dance Floor , her 21st-century bestseller.
While she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for the lattermost, many of her other films were not well received. As a businesswoman , Madonna founded the company Maverick in , which included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history.
Her other ventures include fashion brands , written works , health clubs and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities , having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in and Raising Malawi in , and advocates for gender equality and LGBT rights.
She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the US Billboard Hot chart and has achieved 44 number-one singles in between major global music markets. On Forbes annual rankings, Madonna became the world's highest-paid female musician a record 11 times across four decades s—s. She was also listed among Rolling Stone ' s greatest artists and greatest songwriters ever. Since Madonna had the same name as her mother, family members called her "Little Nonnie".
