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Does Taylor have 400 million records sold?  Has she had a successful career for 40 years?  Any awards for best actress?  Does every female pop artist copy her style and concert script? Does Taylor Swift reinvent herself for every era?  Nope!  
 

“Where are the hits?” - Neil Tennant, Pet Shop Boys

Outside of a few places she doesn't sell well or chart well either. In Austria where she had to cancel her show, she has sold very little albums there and has never charted well in that country despite selling out shows there. U2 has been one of the most succesful touring acts for decades now and so has the stones but when is the last time they had a successful album or hit single. Her tour for most overseas is just something that people are going to, in fact in some of the places she toured the crowd was mostly Americans not the locals who went to see her,  an example is in Spain she sold out shows but has like 2 hits singles from years ago and 1 album that charted well over there. 

I would also like to add no one cares about cultural impact at least the younger generation, their all about numbers. One has to ask why did Taylor sign a contract with Iheart to play her songs 24/7 for a week to inflate her sales? She still fell a million short from breaking Adele record who did it naturally since then she released 40 different variants to help sell the record that would've dropped off the charts a longtime ago. She manipulates alot of this and again I think it will catch up with her.

Exactly. When I was young, Madonna was everywhere. Her music was unavoidable, whether you liked it or not (the same was true for artists like Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, etc, etc, etc). I know who Taylor Swift is, but I only know her by name—I’m not familiar with her music or videos because they don’t interest me. So, in my view, her cultural impact is nowhere near that of Madonna

Is this even a real conversation. Madonna IS the Queen of Pop. It is easy for someone like Taylor Swift to stroll through the doors that Madonna, and others, opened for her. She isn't paving any new paths or breaking down any barriers, and therefore, hasn't fought for anyone's rights or speak for those who can't speak out loud. She is safe and non controversial. She seems like a nice girl, but even Taylor knows Madonna is the Queen. I don't think that Taylor Swift has made any moves that will cement her place in pop music history. Just another popular star, one of many. In my opinion...

And again: Or simply, her music outside of the USA isn’t as powerful, and you don’t hear her songs unless you have a genuine interest in her. 
For example I hear Dua Lipa all time on the radio, I know her singles but they never play Taylor Swift. So, honey, I don't live under a rock. 

Or simply, her music outside of the USA isn’t as powerful, and you don’t hear her songs unless you have a genuine interest in her.

honestly, does anyone knows any of her songs besides Shake it off ? nope .
so I wouldn't worry, Madonna is safe from that insignificant crap .

Still blows me away that there was never a video for Holiday, considering how huge it's become (and even then at the time).
And that the label and networks didn't want anything too 'dance-oriented'....goddamn!!!  In hindsight, what a choice that was...

not le monde diplo but les inrocks and others but i'm ok being called a random forum member, it'd what we all are here after all...except i interviewed Jane Brinton once, Shep's manager then and she said he was full of shit and to this day he still won't go back to music because Madonna did not want to make bedtime stories with him, he thought, quote , that Erotica was gonna be his Thriller that will make him the new in demand super producer. It did not and wanted his revenge with Madonna's following album but she changed her mind and he lost it. The Erotica diaries can't be trusted for one reason : he totally dismisses Tony Shimkin's role in the production of the album just like he wanted to fuck him up with the credits ( he sued him for Vogue in retaliation when Shimkin ended up managing the Salsoul catalogue at blue note) and Madonna sided with Shimkin on this, which he resented. He's still very bitter about Madonna and dismissive.  Plus Brinton told me that a lot of his remixes were done by his sound engineers and she even did some herself (not the biggest names). So yes he's as shady as some random forum members. 

Exactly, one doesn't need to obtain permission or a license to perform a cover song "live".  The venues are responsible for obtaining a blanket license from their local PRO(s) to ensure the legal status of songs that are played within their premises.  But as soon as you record with intention to distribute/sell, that's when a license from the artist must be obtain.  My guess the writers of that song were asking way to much to use it.   

Because from what I've read and learned from industry professionals, there is a difference in legal terms/usages for performing something live vs putting that performance out for actual purchase.
Also, depending on who owns rights, etc....different owners/estates may have different stipulations, costs, etc. regarding what and how something can be used.

I'd imagine the license fee to sing it live was much lower then the license fee to include it on the release - 

It has to be about licensing.  Nothing else really makes sense.   It was such a highlight and she and her team knew it. Including it, would have definitely made the concert film even more loved.   It's unfortunate, but I do think she had to cut it due to legal issues. 

Well that and Jimmy Jimmy were going for that sound, so I can understand.  However, songs like "Live To Tell" and "Papa Don't Preach" she sounds more mature.  Like i mentioned,  she kinda goes back and forth on a lot of albums, but the album True Blue is when we really started getting a taste of her sounding more mature.  LAP surely sounds more mature than TB. 

Great question and discussion so far. My first thought about Madonna's voice sounding at it's most mature (as a woman) was when she did Evita. 

As someone who attends live theater regularly (and the occasional concert), I've noticed that a great deal of shows/artists are no longer producing tour programs. So I've inquired why with folks in the industry. According to them, tour programs are incredibly expensive to make, and are not the biggest sellers at merchandise stands. The cost to make them vs. how many sell is considered no longer viable to the industry...thus, a lot of artists/touring productions (concerts, theater, etc.) are no longer selling them.

Unfortunately, no, she never performed "Ring My Bell".
That said, an absolutely fabulous song from an absolutely funky and fabulous album.

Totally and let's honor the brilliance of it with the actual song....
 

Unfortunately, no, she never performed "Ring My Bell".
That said, an absolutely fabulous song from an absolutely funky and fabulous album.

Unfortunately, no, she never performed "Ring My Bell".
That said, an absolutely fabulous song from an absolutely funky and fabulous album.

Unfortunately, no, she never performed "Ring My Bell".
That said, an absolutely fabulous song from an absolutely funky and fabulous album.

Great bonus track/b-side! Love it! but I think the first time M performed a b-side was part of Cyber-raga on the MDNA Tour. I suppose Beautiful Killer is a bonus track as well.

Yeah, I see this thread getting ugly.  All I am going to say is; even if there was something amiss with her these days, we've had a good run of entertainment and music from her. 4 decades and not many entertainers can claim that.
I don't necessarily agree things have gone down hill for her in the past years.  I also don't think her management is really the problem. After all, she's totally in charge.  I know some hate Guy O., but he's been wanting to do more with her past work (like most fans want), but Madonna is preventing that from happening. She's always had a keen sense in business as Guy O.  Of course, nothing is perfect.  Nothing is always guaranteed.  Though, she's hardly living in the poor house.  She's still touring and recording music that she wants to record despite what some fans think.  In the end, it's her ship.  It's bound to hit some icebergs.  No one can bat a 1000 all the time.  I think some fans get stuck in an era or two and enjoy and want her to keep producing that same sort of magic.  Sorry, that's not Madonna.  She evolves and I think some fans have a hard time doing the same. All I know is that I still enjoy her very much.  That's what I try to concentrate on.  I don't believe worrying about Madonna's career at this point is something we should concern ourselves with especially when there are far more important things to worry about.  I prefer to enjoy what she gives us, than pick apart what isn't perfect. After all, I've enjoy so much from her, more than not.
What's next?  I'm sure something fantastic and enjoyable like all her past work.  I'm sure she's going to take some time to get her health back on track, and then probably look into doing a film.  Then an album again.