Swift is right there or bigger than Prime Maddona. She lacks Madonna longevity but that's it . Swift has the bigger fan base and sells out faster .
Everything today sell more than yesterday, in many types of media
But again that's not even my argument
If we speak about international fame i doubt she's comparable
Back when i was kid Madonna was an icon, the queen of whole shit
Even without internet, people here knew her much more
Today at least here Swift is just considered an american singer, even if is true her last(?) song is being pusher a lot on radio here too... but it's like first time she's pushed that much here
To give perspective sticking with USA industry Katy Perry or Rihanna have been pushed just as much but on multiple songs, going bit more back JLo too
To stay more on present, also Miley Cyrus
Tbh i made joke before about Britney even being in the conversation, but honestly here you would find more people that know who Britney was, unless they're too young to remember her fame period
Don't pretend to know that's same for rest of europe, but i think if you ask any euro of reasonably young age and listen radio he/she can tell you kinda easily 5 Dua Lipa songs (not titles, i would fail that, but recognize/hint the song as a DL one)... doubt they could hint you 5 or even 3 from Swift (personally i literally just know last big "Is it over now" and have vague memory of her being the girl singing shake it off, but that's about it... will probably recognize more but not without YT help)
But again, that's my limited perspective... is possible Italy is some sort of bubble, only place on earth where she's not super famous
Even if i can say traveling europe local radio usually play same popular songs as italian radio
Have nothing against Swift, my limited knowledge about her is very beautiful girl and good voice
But if her popularity in rest of europe is similar to here, i have hard time rank her as icon anywhere near Madonna, Micheal Jackson and people like that