March 12, 2021

In honor of “Women’s History Month,” which female artists from any era do you feel have influenced Pop Culture the most throughout their careers?

Erik Bradley, B96: ANYONE who has made such a significant impact to strike an immediate thought when you hear ONE name — Mariah, Whitney, Beyonce, Rihanna, Britney, Aretha, Taylor, Diana, Cher, Madonna. The one name recognition and impact of thought, tells you everything you need to know.

Jammer, WEZB: Karen Carpenter and Mariah Carey.

Jonathan Shuford, WRVW: Janis Joplin, Mama Cass…more recently, Alanis Morrisette, Lauryn Hill, Taylor Swift changed Pop music in the mid-2000’s, and Billie Eilish totally changed the game.

Bob Patrick, WXLK: In my lifetime no one has had a bigger influence on Pop Culture than Madonna during her peak run from the 80’s through the early 90’s. Everyone dressed like her, had her hair style and wanted to walk, talk and act like her. Unmatched to this day, IMO. Honorable mention: Britney Spears.

Joey Brooks, WKSS: Madonna, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, all of whom have withstood the test of time. They managed to maintain relevance over a few decades.

Fish, WKRZ: Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross sixties into the seventies. Madonna for the eighties. Whitney in the nineties. In this century, honorable mentions go to Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande.

Josh Wolff, WAEB: Madonna has been a Pop Culture icon and has inspired many artists. On the more contemporary side, Taylor Swift in that a lot of artists look up to her and she has been known for mentoring up and coming artists.

Kobe, WZNE: Madonna brought the modern, independent female artist into the forefront which has influenced everyone since then.

Adam Rivers, WKCI: Britney Spears.

Mikey V, Kiss 108: I’m going to go current since a lot of the other names are pretty obvious. Billie Eilish has changed everything for this generation.

Mike McVay, McVay Media: Aretha Franklin, Steve Nicks, Jewel, Taylor Swift.

Heather Deluca, WSJO: Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift.

Max Volume, KOZZ: All of them. They all inspired little girls to brave the challenge…

Terri Ray, WKLT: Stevie Nicks

 

Toby Knapp, WASH: Janis Joplin, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Ella Fitzgerald, Madonna, Lauryn Hill, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, The CHICKS, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry. When it comes to the activist side of pop culture, these are my favorite people.

Buster Satterfield, WIOQ: Britney Spears, Madonna, Whitney Houston and Nicki Minaj would be on my Mount Rushmore.

Jana Sutter, WXXL: Top 3: Tina Turner, Madonna, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe (who’s finally getting inducted into the Rock & Roll HOF this year!) Honorable mentions: Katy Perry for her individuality, Pat Benatar for being a real “Rocker-chick” when no one else was doing it, and Lady Gaga has been really good as pushing some boundaries.

Valentine, WBHT: Most recently and for a couple decades now, I’d give props to Lady Gaga. Also, Madonna would have to be in there. Both are cutting edge and have helped shape the course of Pop music along the way.

Sue O’Neil, WKSE: Here’s a list of my favorites: Aretha, Babs, Dolly, Tina Turner, Donna Summer, Chaka, Blondie, Stevie Nicks, Loretta, Patsy, Mary J, Adele.

Buzz Knight, Buzz Knight Media: So hard to narrow this down, but the first one that comes to mind is Tina Turner. When she came on the scene, she was so powerful that no one knew what to make of her. Still to this day, the greatest female Rock singer of all time. “River Deep Mountain High” comes out of the speakers like a freight train!

Lee Abrams, MediaVisions: Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Dionne Warwick, Marylin McCoo, Karen Carpenter, Barbra Streisand, Joni Mitchell, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Stevie Nicks, Patsy Cline, Nina Simone, Enya, Carole King, Taylor Swift, Linda Ronstadt, Loretta Lynn,

Chris Michaels, FM100: There are so many to name, but I would say Madonna, Whitney Houston, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Adele are at the top of my list of very talented female artists who have influenced music and culture.

Java Joel, Javajoelmurphy@gmail.com: Madonna. She had hits AND was a huge pop culture influence. Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and even Taylor Swift are in the runners-up category.

Mike “OD” O’Donnell, WKRZ: Mariah Carey was very influential in the nineties, she was an icon. Beyonce was a game-changer and is another icon. She paved the way for a lot of other artists to make their mark. Alicia Keys is a great artist and someone who has always innovated and came across as a true artist.

Justin Chase, Beasley Media Group: Stevie Nicks for Rock, Dolly Paton for Country, Beyonce for R&B and Pop. Also, you have to include Taylor Swift from a multi-genre standpoint. Taylor’s about as big as you get.

Rick Vaughn, KENZ: Janet Jackson, for a good while there, everyone on the planet knew what she was all about.

Jon Zellner, iHeartMedia: Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Ella Fitzgerald, Mariah Carey, Beyonce.

Buzz Knight, Buzz Knight Media: So hard to narrow this down, but the first one that comes to mind is Tina Turner. When she came on the scene, she was so powerful that no one knew what to make of her. Still to this day, the greatest female Rock singer of all time. “River Deep Mountain High” comes out of the speakers like a freight train!

Dom Theodore, Radio Animal Media Strategies: There are literally hundreds! Some of the biggest that changed the game: Madonna, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Janice Joplin, Stevie Knicks, Lady Gaga…all innovators! There are so many more.

Jeremy Rice, WBLI: Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Celia Cruz.

Jeff Hurley, iHeartMedia: You can’t write the history of music over the past twenty years without saluting Pink. Her style and sound have constantly evolved and grown over the years. She’s a role-model both on and off stage.

Reed Phillips, @ReedPhillipsRad: Dolly Parton through her career has never stopped influencing pop culture. Her music is timeless, she has a theme park, she has a program to give free books to kids, and of course giving $1M to help fund a search for a COVID vaccine.

 

Next Week’s Question Of The Week:
In the spirit of spring cleaning, what are you ready to (figuratively) throw out from the past 12 months?
e-Mail your responses to: jodorisio@deanemediasolutions.com or bburke@deanemediasolutions.com