Madonna has critisised manufactured pop

LONDON, UK (Q magazine) - Madonna has criticised the trend for manufactured pop acts and the recent stream of TV talent searches. She said the pop world had become "homogenised", and accused record companies of putting marketing ahead of talent.

In an interview with Q magazine, Madonna, 44, also criticised the idea of craving celebrity status for its own sake - rather than achieving it through ability.

Referring to shows like Popstars and American Idol, she said: "I arrived at a different time - before the time of svengalis holding talent searches; finding a girl that looks right and can carry a tune and then figuring a way to market her."

'Powerful illusion'

Discussing Pink, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, she said: "I'm not saying those girls can't grow into something, but I really don't know where we're going with the world.
"Everything's so homogenised." It was wrong to seek fame for its own sake, she added.

Madonna is the most commercially successful female artist of all time, with worldwide record sales of more than 140 million including albums True Blue, Immaculate Collection and Ray of Light.
But her acting career has not reached the same levels of success, with critical acclaim proving harder to come by.
Last week she swept the Razzies for the worst film of the year, with Swept Away which was directed by her husband, Guy Ritchie.