Although Madonna has been around for many decades, it seems to me like Adele is much more respected and relies on talent (instead of gimmicks) - Her album '21' sold 30 million copies. Madonna's best selling album sold 25 million copies at a time when record sales were exponentially higher.  - Adele gets #1's without trying. She doesn't need to reinvent herself or shock the audiences. She can sell 1M+ based on the power of her music alone. - Longevity. Adele's hit singles are timeless. While M