Name me ONE Madonna song that was innovative in a way that influenced one other singer. Madonna’s whole “Pop Diva” is all fashion, zero music. Now, personally, I liked Ray of Light and La Isla Bonita, but La Isla Bonita was simply a fun pastiche of older music, and Ray of Light did nothing that Cher hadn’t done several years earlier. Both were fun dance music. Neither were rock, and neither were ground-breaking. At most, Madonna was to synth pop what Bon Jovi was to hair metal and Tom Petty was to Chicken-Fried Rock. So if the ever create the Synth Pop Hall of Fame, I’ll be the first to suggest Madonna.
It doesn’t matter if it’s innovative. The fact is her style, musically, videos, and stage show, has informed every single pop diva since. You mentioned Paula Abdul, when did she hit? AFTER Madonna. Janet Jackson didn’t start her solo career until AFTER Madonna.
The question was wake, not breaking ground. And the wake is still going on today. Period.
Rock is a big net. And includes synth pop.
Again, don’t be Wenner. He’s a dick. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it doesn’t belong in the RNR HOF. Madonna should be there. And heck, she used her induction to campaign for Iggy and the Stooges. So I’ll give her points for having taste, even if she never uses it.