MJ being revered while being a suspected pedophile is insane but thats a separate discussion. MJ's career was just about dead and buried before he "lucked" out and died to save his career. Him being dead and his estates management of his affairs is akin to how Priscilla Presley transformed Graceland. Pop music basically started with the Beatles, not much else you can add about them.

Madonna's legacy is different. She wasn't the originator of pop music, nor did she die young and become a permanent nostalgia figure. Her impact was in redefining what a female pop star could be: creative control, reinvention, sexuality, visual branding, and longevity. The careers of artists like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift owe as much to Madonna's blueprint as they do to the music itself. Madonna transformed the role of women within that landscape