Madonna

Solo Artist · Queen of Pop

Photo: chrisweger · CC BY-SA 2.0
Active 1982-present
Origin Bay City, Michigan
Albums 16
Tracks 202
Most frequent collaborator Stuart Price · 30 tracks
Genres PopDance-PopElectronicR&B
Artist
95%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 192 of 202 tracks

Did Madonna write her own songs?

Yes, on almost all of them, as a co-writer. Madonna holds a writing credit on around 95% of her catalogue, though she rarely writes alone. She co-writes with the producer who defines each era, from Patrick Leonard on 'Like a Prayer' to William Orbit on 'Ray of Light' and Mirwais on 'Music.' Her earliest hits, though, like 'Like a Virgin,' 'Holiday,' and 'Material Girl,' were written entirely by others.

By the Numbers

16
Studio Albums
202
Tracks Credited
95%
Self-Written
44
Years Active
127
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 192 / 202 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 202 tracks: how many Madonna wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Madonna has a writing credit95%
4%
91%
5%
Sole author8tracks4%
Co-written184tracks91%
Outside writers10tracks5%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Madonna's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 202 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)95%
Composer (music)95%
Producer31%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Madonna's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 95%
63%
56%
100%
100%
100%
73%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1983Madonna
1984Like a Virgin
1986True Blue
1989Like a Prayer
1992Erotica
1994Bedtime Stories
1998Ray of Light
2000Music
2003American Life
2005Confessions on a Dance Floor
2008Hard Candy
2012MDNA
2015Rebel Heart
2019Madame X
2022Finally Enough Love
2026Confessions II
Early · 84% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

81%
1980s
Madonna, Like a Virgin +2 more
92%
1990s
Erotica, Bedtime Stories +1 more
100%
2000s
Music, American Life +2 more
100%
2010s
MDNA, Rebel Heart +1 more
100%
2020s
Finally Enough Love, Confessions II

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Madonna sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Madonna
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Katseye0%
Diana Ross10%
Backstreet Boys25%
Rihanna44%
Kelly Rowland53%
Selena Gomez71%
George Michael80%
95%Madonna
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Holiday
Madonna
Written by Curtis Hudson, Lisa Stevens
Outside writers
Lucky Star
Madonna
Written by Madonna
Wrote it
Borderline
Madonna
Written by Reggie Lucas
Outside writers
Like a Virgin
Like a Virgin
Written by Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly
Outside writers
Material Girl
Like a Virgin
Written by Peter Brown, Robert Rans
Outside writers
Angel
Like a Virgin
Written by Madonna, Steve Bray
Co-wrote
Dress You Up
Like a Virgin
Written by Peggy Stanziale, Andrea LaRusso
Outside writers
Live to Tell
True Blue
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Co-wrote
Papa Don't Preach
True Blue
Written by Brian Elliot, Madonna
Co-wrote
True Blue
True Blue
Written by Madonna, Steve Bray
Co-wrote
Open Your Heart
True Blue
Written by Madonna, Gardner Cole, Peter Rafelson
Co-wrote
La Isla Bonita
True Blue
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard, Bruce Gaitsch
Co-wrote
Like a Prayer
Like a Prayer
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Co-wrote
Express Yourself
Like a Prayer
Written by Madonna, Steve Bray
Co-wrote
Cherish
Like a Prayer
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Co-wrote
Oh Father
Like a Prayer
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Co-wrote
Keep It Together
Like a Prayer
Written by Madonna, Steve Bray
Co-wrote
Erotica
Erotica
Written by Madonna, Shep Pettibone
Co-wrote
Deeper and Deeper
Erotica
Written by Madonna, Shep Pettibone, Anthony Shimkin
Co-wrote
Rain
Erotica
Written by Madonna, Shep Pettibone
Co-wrote
Secret
Bedtime Stories
Written by Madonna, Dallas Austin
Co-wrote
Take a Bow
Bedtime Stories
Written by Babyface
Outside writers
Human Nature
Bedtime Stories
Written by Madonna, Dave Hall, Michael Deering, Shawn McKenzie, Kevin McKenzie
Co-wrote
Bedtime Story
Bedtime Stories
Written by Bjork
Outside writers
Frozen
Ray of Light
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Co-wrote
Ray of Light
Ray of Light
Written by Madonna, William Orbit, Clive Muldoon, Dave Curtiss, Christine Leach
Co-wrote
The Power of Good-Bye
Ray of Light
Written by Madonna, Rick Nowels
Co-wrote
Nothing Really Matters
Ray of Light
Written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard
Co-wrote
Music
Music
Written by Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzaï
Co-wrote
Don't Tell Me
Music
Written by Madonna, Joe Henry
Co-wrote
American Life
American Life
Written by Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzaï
Co-wrote
Die Another Day
American Life
Written by Madonna, Mirwais Ahmadzaï
Co-wrote
Hung Up
Confessions on a Dance Floor
Written by Madonna, Stuart Price, Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus
Co-wrote
4 Minutes
Hard Candy
Written by Madonna, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake
Co-wrote
Give It 2 Me
Hard Candy
Written by Madonna, Pharrell Williams
Co-wrote
Give Me All Your Luvin'
MDNA
Written by Madonna, Martin Solveig, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Onika Maraj, Mathangi Arulpragasam
Co-wrote
Bitch I'm Madonna
Rebel Heart
Written by Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Diplo, Onika Maraj
Co-wrote
Medellin
Madame X
Written by Madonna, Maluma, Oscar Holter
Co-wrote
Crave
Madame X
Written by Madonna, Swae Lee, Khalif Brown
Co-wrote
Bring Your Love
Confessions II
Written by Madonna, Stuart Price, Roy Holman, Shanna Jackson, Kevin Saunderson
Co-wrote
Love Sensation
Confessions II
Written by Madonna, Stuart Price
Co-wrote
Danceteria
Confessions II
Written by Madonna, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter, Stuart Price, Lou Reed, Andrew Wotman
Co-wrote

Discography 16 albums

Covers all 15 studio albums.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Madonna202 tracks
30Stuart Price, 30 tracks MA28Mirwais Ahmadzaï, 28 tracks PL20Patrick Leonard, 20 tracks 16William Orbit, 16 tracks SP13Shep Pettibone, 13 tracks SB12Steve Bray, 12 tracks D10Diplo, 10 tracks MS9Martin Solveig, 9 tracks PW8Pharrell Williams, 8 tracks MD8Mike Dean, 8 tracks NR5Nile Rodgers, 5 tracks T5Timbaland, 5 tracks JT5Justin Timberlake, 5 tracks B&5Bloodshy & Avant, 5 tracks RL4Reggie Lucas, 4 tracks DA4Dallas Austin, 4 tracks DH4Dave Hall, 4 tracks DD4Dino d'Santiago, 4 tracks P4Parisi, 4 tracks AB3Andre Betts, 3 tracks RN3Rick Nowels, 3 tracks KW3Kanye West, 3 tracks TG3Toby Gad, 3 tracks NM3Nicki Minaj, 3 tracks M3Maluma, 3 tracks JB2John Benitez, 2 tracks MK2Mark Kamins, 2 tracks AS2Anthony Shimkin, 2 tracks MN2Meshell Ndegeocello, 2 tracks NH2Nellee Hooper, 2 tracks B2Bjork, 2 tracks B2Babyface, 2 tracks JH2Joe Henry, 2 tracks BA2Benny Andersson, 2 tracks on ABBA's page BU2Bjorn Ulvaeus, 2 tracks TB2Tim Bergling, 2 tracks on Avicii's page OH2Oscar Holter, 2 tracks A2Anitta, 2 tracks SB2Stephen Bray, 2 tracks A2Arca, 2 tracks AW2Andrew Watt, 2 tracks HW2Henry Walter, 2 tracks C2Cirkut, 2 tracks CH1Curtis Hudson, 1 track LS1Lisa Stevens, 1 track PB1Peter Brown, 1 track RR1Robert Rans, 1 track BS1Billy Steinberg, 1 track TK1Tom Kelly, 1 track MG1Miles Gregory, 1 track PS1Peggy Stanziale, 1 track AL1Andrea LaRusso, 1 track BE1Brian Elliot, 1 track GC1Gardner Cole, 1 track PR1Peter Rafelson, 1 track BG1Bruce Gaitsch, 1 track P1Prince, 1 track HB1Henlee Brown, 1 track MD1Michael Deering, 1 track SM1Shawn McKenzie, 1 track KM1Kevin McKenzie, 1 track RM1Rod McKuen, 1 track AK1Anita Kerr, 1 track DC1David Collins, 1 track CM1Clive Muldoon, 1 track DC1Dave Curtiss, 1 track CL1Christine Leach, 1 track SM1Susannah Melvoin, 1 track GS1Guy Sigsworth, 1 track OK1Ori Kaplan, 1 track TY1Tomer Yosef, 1 track MT1Michael Torabi, 1 track M1M.I.A., 1 track MA1Mathangi Arulpragasam, 1 track CP1Che Pope, 1 track AP1Arash Pournouri, 1 track CT1Chance the Rapper, 1 track N1Nas, 1 track NJ1Nasir Jones, 1 track Q1Quavo, 1 track QM1Quavious Marshall, 1 track SL1Swae Lee, 1 track KB1Khalif Brown, 1 track DD1Dj Dahi, 1 track JV1Jenson Vaughan, 1 track BB1Benny Benassi, 1 track AB1Alle Benassi, 1 track M1MNEK, 1 track MM1Maureen McDonald, 1 track TP1Thomas Pentz, 1 track on Diplo's page AR1Ariel Rechtshaid, 1 track EB1Edgar Barrera, 1 track JL1Juan Londono, 1 track ML1Marvin L. Burns, 1 track RH1Roy Holman, 1 track SJ1Shanna Jackson, 1 track KS1Kevin Saunderson, 1 track LR1Lou Reed, 1 track MM1Marcos Masis, 1 track SV1Salomón Villada Hoyos, 1 track on Feid's page T1Tainy, 1 track MG1Martijn Garritsen, 1 track OR1Oskar Rindborg, 1 track WB1Wilhelm Börjesson, 1 track TU1Taylor Upsahl, 1 track MG1Martin Garrix, 1 track O1Osrin, 1 track LL1Lanita LaShonda Smith, 1 track SM1Scott M. Carter, 1 track MM1Mustapha M. Mbiakop, 1 track MF1Matthew Fonson, 1 track JA1Jessica Ashley Karpov, 1 track LS1Lanita Smith, 1 track TP1Triangle Park, 1 track ML1Mustapha LeBeau, 1 track PV1Paul Van Haver, 1 track MB1Magnus Baard, 1 track LH1Lars Hakansson, 1 track AH1Anders Hansson, 1 track TN1Tim Norell, 1 track PT1Per Thyrén, 1 track M1Mirwais, 1 track ES1Erik Satie, 1 track LL1Lourdes Leon, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. MA Mirwais Ahmadzaï · PL Patrick Leonard · SP Shep Pettibone · SB Steve Bray

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Madonna's authorship story is one of the most dramatic creative evolutions in pop history. Her debut and Like a Virgin relied heavily on professional songwriters like Reggie Lucas and Billy Steinberg, but by Like a Prayer (1989) she co-wrote every single track, entering a decade-long period of near-total creative ownership that defined her as something far more than a pop performer.

Quick Facts

  • Queen of PopWidely dubbed the 'Queen of Pop'
  • Best-selling female artistRecognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time
  • GrammysWon seven Grammy Awards
  • Chart recordHas 12 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and the most chart-toppers on a single Billboard chart
  • ReinventionReinvents her sound each era with a new production partner, from Patrick Leonard to Mirwais

Creative Fingerprint

A career co-writer who reinvents: Madonna holds a writing credit on around 95% of her catalogue, almost always co-writing with the producer who defines each era, from Patrick Leonard to William Orbit and Mirwais. Only her earliest hits, like 'Like a Virgin,' were written entirely by others.

The Story

Madonna Louise Ciccone, known mononymously as Madonna, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who has dominated popular music since the early 1980s. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in the late 1970s to pursue dance and music, signing with Sire Records in 1982 and releasing her self-titled debut the following year. Often referred to as the Queen of Pop, she is one of the best-selling music artists of all time with over 300 million records sold worldwide, earning recognition from the Guinness World Records as the best-selling female recording artist. Her career is defined by constant reinvention, musically, visually, and culturally, across more than four decades, with each album era arriving with a distinct aesthetic identity and sound. Critically, her relationship with songwriting evolved dramatically over the course of her career: her earliest recordings relied significantly on outside writers, but from True Blue (1986) onward she became an increasingly dominant creative force, co-writing and co-producing the majority of her own catalog.

Awards & Recognition

Recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of all time
Won seven Grammy Awards
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in her first year of eligibility
Has 12 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100
Widely dubbed the 'Queen of Pop' and one of the most influential figures in popular music

Frequently Asked Questions Madonna

Did Madonna write her own songs?
Yes, on almost all of them, as a co-writer. Madonna holds a writing credit on around 95% of her catalogue, though she rarely writes alone. She co-writes with the producer who defines each era, from Patrick Leonard on 'Like a Prayer' to William Orbit on 'Ray of Light' and Mirwais on 'Music.' Her earliest hits, though, like 'Like a Virgin,' 'Holiday,' and 'Material Girl,' were written entirely by others.
Who wrote 'Like a Virgin'?
'Like a Virgin' (1984) was written by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, not by Madonna. It became her first US number-one single and one of her signature songs, but she did not write it.
Who wrote 'Material Girl'?
'Material Girl' (1984) was written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans. It became one of Madonna's defining early hits and nicknames, but like several of her early singles, it was an outside composition.
Who wrote 'Like a Prayer'?
'Like a Prayer' (1989) was co-written by Madonna and Patrick Leonard, her key collaborator of the late 1980s. It is one of her most acclaimed songs and shows the point where she was co-writing all her material.
Who does Madonna write with?
A different producer for each era: Patrick Leonard and Stephen Bray in the 1980s, Shep Pettibone on Erotica, William Orbit on Ray of Light, Mirwais on Music, Stuart Price on Confessions on a Dance Floor, and later Timbaland and Diplo.
Who wrote 'Ray of Light'?
'Ray of Light' (1998) was co-written by Madonna and William Orbit, based on an older song, and it reinvented her sound with electronica. It won her a Grammy and is often cited among her best work.
How many albums has Madonna released?
This catalogue covers 15 of her studio and compilation albums, from her 1983 debut Madonna to Madame X (2019).
How many Grammys has Madonna won?
Seven Grammy Awards over her career, though she was not nominated for many of her biggest 1980s hits.
Why is Madonna called the Queen of Pop?
She earned the title through decades of chart dominance, constant reinvention, and cultural influence, becoming the best-selling female recording artist of all time.
What genre is Madonna?
She is a pop and dance-pop artist who has moved through electronic, R&B, and other styles, reinventing her sound repeatedly across her career.

Sources

Wikipedia: Madonna discography Wikipedia: Madonna