Michael Jackson named CNN's top music icon

Pop king Michael Jackson has been named the top global music icon of the past 50 years in a poll conducted by CNN. Indian singer Asha Bhosle loses out.

Pop king Michael Jackson has been named the top global music icon of the past 50 years in a poll conducted by CNN.

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"Almost 100,000 of you voted to tell us that the self-styled king of pop, who died suddenly in June 2009, is the musician you rate above all others," the news magazine said.

British pop group The Beatles, late Canto pop sensation Leslie Cheung, rock 'n' roller Elvis Presley and Reggae godfather Bob Marley also made to the top five.

No female artists made the list which had India's Asha Bhosle in the long list of 20, although US pop queen Madonna came in at number six, narrowly missing a place.

Last month CNN's arts and culture program, Icon, asked viewers to vote for their top five most iconic musicians of all time.