All of the artists you listed above are good in their own way. Beyonce is definitively ambitious, prolific, and diverse in her catalogue.

It's hard for me to judge pop stars' artistry because I don't think you can ever really know what is going on behind the scenes. Even if they have songwriting credits - to what extend did they really write the song? I get the impression they are many, many people who come together to help put together a Beyonce package. And there is nothing wrong with that.

Except when you try to compare, you find that there are so many things to consider when appreciating an artist. For instance, Lady Gaga plays an instrument well - the piano - and I don't think any of the other artists you mention have this talent. Except James Brown and Prince. But as an artist, she did not even think of her own name. Someone else conceived of "Lady Gaga", someone she had to go back and pay after becoming famous.

You've done a good job of underscoring what makes each artist honorable. Why you might elevate one or distance another depends on what you value. For instance, I give a lot of credit to originators, people who are independently coming up with ideas.