List of best-selling boy bands
A boy band is a popular music act featuring several male singers who harmonize together. Being vocal groups, most boy group members do not play musical instruments, however, exceptions do exist. Boy groups emerged in the late 1960s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production values and backing by top studio musicians. In later eras, the boy group template would be applied to disco, R&B and soul-based formats as well as pop music.
Best-selling boy bands[edit]
Rank | Band | Country | Sold | Genre | Studio albums | Members | Years active |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Backstreet Boys | United States | 130 million[1][2] | Pop, pop rock, R&B, teen pop, adult contemporary | 8 | 5 | 1993–present |
2 | The Osmonds | United States | 102 million[3][4] | R&B, blue-eyed soul | 21 | 5 → 4 → 3 → 4 | 1958–1980 |
3 | The Jackson 5 | United States | 100 million[5] | R&B, soul | 8 | 5 → 4 → 3 → 4 | 1964–1990, 2001, 2012–13 |
4 | New Kids on the Block | United States | 80 million[6][7] | R&B, Pop | 7 | 6 → 5 | 1984–1994; 2008–present |
5 | Boyz II Men | United States | 60 million[8][9] | R&B | 9 | 4 → 3 | 1988–present |
6 | Menudo | Puerto Rico | 60 million[10][11] | Latin pop | 35 | Rotational | 1977–1997, 2007–2009 |
7 | 'N Sync | United States | 50 million[12][13] | Pop, R&B | 3 | 5 | 1995–2002 |
8 | Westlife | Ireland | 50 million[14][15] | Pop | 10 | 5 → 4 | 1998–2012 |
9 | Take That | United Kingdom | 45 million[16][17] | Pop, pop rock | 6 | 5 | 1989–1996, 2005–present |
10 | One Direction | United Kingdom | 35 million[18] | Pop, teen pop | 3 | 5 | 2010–present |
11 | SMAP | Template:Japan | 33 million[19] | J-Pop | 20 | 6 → 5 | 1988–present |
12 | Boyzone | Ireland | 25 million[20][21] | Pop | 5 | 5 → 4 | 1993–2000, 2008–present |
13 | Big Time Rush | United States | 21 million | Pop, teen pop, pop rock, R&B | 3 | 4 | 2009-present |
14 | East 17 | United Kingdom | 20 million[22] | Pop | 5 | 4 → 3 | 1991–1999, 2006–present |
15 | Five | United Kingdom | 20 million[23][24] | Pop, pop rock | 3 | 5 → 4 | 1997–2001, 2006–07, 2012–present |
16 | Jonas Brothers | United States | 17 million[25][26] | Pop | 4 | 3 | 2005–2013 |
17 | Hanson | United States | 16 million[27][28] | Pop | 9 | 3 | 1992–present |
18 | Blue | United Kingdom | 15 million[29][30] | Pop, R&B | 4 | 4 | 2000–05, 2009–present |
19 | New Edition | United States | 10 million[31] | R&B, hip hop | 8 | 5 → 4 → 5 → 6 | 1983–1989, 1996–1997, 2002–present |
20 | 98 Degrees | United States | 10 million[32][33] | Pop, soul | 5 | 4 | 1997–2003, 2012–present |
Best-selling boy band albums[edit]
Worldwide[edit]
Released | Album | Artist | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Millennium | Backstreet Boys | 40 million[34][35] |
1997 | Backstreet Boys (Backstreet's Back) | Backstreet Boys | 32 million[36][37] |
2000 | Black & Blue | Backstreet Boys | 24 million[38] |
1988 | Hangin' Tough | New Kids on the Block | 20 million[39] |
1990 | Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | 20 million[40] |
Australia[edit]
Certifications according to the ARIA.[41]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Backstreet's Back | Backstreet Boys | 350,000 | 5× Platinum | 1997 |
Middle of Nowhere | Hanson | 1997 | ||
Up All Night | One Direction | 280,000 | 4× Platinum | 2011 |
5ive | Five | 210,000 | 3× Platinum | 1998 |
Millennium | Backstreet Boys | 1999 | ||
Take Me Home | One Direction | 2012 | ||
Cooleyhighharmony | Boyz II Men | 140,000 | 2× Platinum | 1991 |
Walthamstow | East 17 | 1993 | ||
II | Boyz II Men | 1994 | ||
Snowed In | Hanson | 1997 | ||
Invincible | Five | 1999 | ||
Midnight Memories | One Direction | 2013 | ||
Backstreet Boys | Backstreet Boys | 70,000 | Platinum | 1996 |
By Request | Boyzone | 1999 | ||
Black & Blue | Backstreet Boys | 2000 | ||
No Strings Attached | 'N Sync | 2000 | ||
Face to Face | Westlife | 2005 | ||
The Love Album | 2006 |
Canada[edit]
Certifications according to the Canadian Recording Industry Association.
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Backstreet Boys | Backstreet Boys | 1,000,000 | Diamond | 1996 |
Backstreet's Back | 1997 | |||
Millennium | 1999 | |||
*NSYNC | 'N Sync | 1997 | ||
Hangin' Tough | New Kids on the Block | 1988 | ||
Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | 700,000 | 7× Platinum | 1990 |
No Strings Attached | 'N Sync | 2000 | ||
II | Boyz II Men | 500,000 | 5× Platinum | 1994 |
Middle of Nowhere | Hanson | 1997 | ||
New Kids on the Block | New Kids on the Block | 300,000 | 3× Platinum | 1986 |
Up All Night | One Direction | 240,000 | 3× Platinum | 2011 |
Take Me Home | 2012 | |||
Victory | The Jackson 5 | 200,000 | 2× Platinum | 1984 |
Merry, Merry Christmas | New Kids on the Block | 1989 | ||
No More Games/The Remix Album | 1991 | |||
Evolution | Boyz II Men | 1997 | ||
Celebrity | 'N Sync | 2001 | ||
A Little Bit Longer | Jonas Brothers | 160,000 | 2× Platinum | 2008 |
Midnight Memories | One Direction | 2013 |
Europe[edit]
Certifications according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
Germany[edit]
Certifications according to the IFPI.[42]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Backstreet's Back | Backstreet Boys | 1,000,000 | 2× Platinum | 1997 |
Millennium | Backstreet Boys | 750,000 | 3× Gold | 1999 |
Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | 500,000 | Platinum | 1990 |
Everything Changes | Take That | 1993 | ||
Backstreet Boys | Backstreet Boys | 1996 | ||
Greatest Hits | Take That | 1996 | ||
Black & Blue | Backstreet Boys | 300,000 | Platinum | 2000 |
Hangin' Tough | New Kids on the Block | 250,000 | Gold | 1988 |
Walthamstow | East 17 | 1993 | ||
Steam | 1994 | |||
Nobody Else | Take That | 1995 | ||
Middle of Nowhere | Hanson | 1997 | ||
*NSYNC | 'N Sync | 1997 | ||
Where We Belong | Boyzone | 1998 | ||
By Request | 1999 | |||
Beautiful World | Take That | 200,000 | Platinum | 2006 |
Progress | 2010 | |||
No Strings Attached | 'N Sync | 150,000 | Gold | 2000 |
Coast to Coast | Westlife | 2000 | ||
The Hits: Chapter One | Backstreet Boys | 2001 | ||
World of Our Own | Westlife | 2001 | ||
One Love | Blue | 2002 | ||
Unbreakable | Westlife | 2002 | ||
Guilty | Blue | 2003 | ||
Best of Blue | Blue | 100,000 | Gold | 2004 |
Never Gone | Backstreet Boys | 2005 | ||
The Circus | Take That | 2008 |
Netherlands[edit]
Certifications according to the NVPI.[43]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Backstreet Boys | Backstreet Boys | 200,000 | 2× Platinum | 1996 |
Backstreet's Back | 1997 | |||
Millennium | 1999 | |||
Everything Changes | Take That | 100,000 | Platinum | 1993 |
Greatest Hits | 1996 | |||
Where We Belong | Boyzone | 1998 | ||
By Request | 1999 | |||
Black & Blue | Backstreet Boys | 80,000 | Platinum | 2000 |
Progress | Take That | 50,000 | Platinum | 2010 |
Take Me Home | One Direction | 2012 | ||
Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | 50,000 | Gold | 1990 |
Nobody Else | Take That | 1995 | ||
5ive | Five | 1998 | ||
Invincible | 1999 | |||
Westlife | Westlife | 1999 | ||
No Strings Attached | 'N Sync | 40,000 | Gold | 2000 |
Coast to Coast | Westlife | 2000 | ||
World of Our Own | 2001 |
Switzerland[edit]
Album | Group | Sales (Based on certifications) |
Certification | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
Backstreet Boys | Backstreet Boys | 150,000 | 3x Platinum | 1996 |
Backstreet's Back | Backstreet Boys | 100,000 | 2x Platinum | 1997 |
Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | 50,000 | Platinum | 1990 |
Everything Changes | Take That | 1993 | ||
Steam | East 17 | 1994 | ||
Greatest Hits | Take That | 1996 | ||
Middle of Nowhere | Hanson | 1997 | ||
Millennium | Backstreet Boys | 1999 | ||
Black & Blue | 2000 | |||
Midnight Memories | One Direction | 30,000 | Platinum | 2013 |
Walthamstow | East 17 | 25,000 | Gold | 1993 |
Up All Night | 1995 | |||
Nobody Else | Take That | 1995 | ||
'N Sync | 'N Sync | 1997 | ||
Where We Belong | Boyzone | 1998 | ||
By Request | 1999 | |||
Coast to Coast | Westlife | 20,000 | 2000 | |
The Hits: Chapter One | Backstreet Boys | 2001 | ||
World of Our Own | Westlife | 2001 | ||
One Love | Blue | 2002 | ||
Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Volume 1 | Westlife | 2002 | ||
Guilty | Blue | 2003 | ||
Best of Blue | 2004 | |||
Never Gone | Backstreet Boys | 15,000 | 2005 | |
Beautiful World | Take That | 2006 | ||
Progress | 2010 | |||
Take Me Home | One Direction | 2012 |
United Kingdom[edit]
Certifications according to the BPI.[44]
United States[edit]
Sales according to Nielsen SoundScan and Platinum certifications according to the RIAA.
See also[edit]
- List of best-selling girl groups
- List of best-selling music artists
- List of best-selling singles
- List of best-selling albums
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Still Alive". Billboard. September 4, 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
- ↑ Garcia, Cathy Rose A. (February 22, 2010). "Backstreet Boys Share Secrets to Success". The Korea Times. Retrieved January 24, 2011.
- ↑ "The Osmond brothers are back on tour - or what's left of them anyway". Express. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- ↑ "Jimmy's still got it as Osmonds head to Belfast with Jukebox tour". News Letter. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- ↑ "The Jackson 5: Formed 1966. Disbanded 1975". BBC. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- ↑ "Interview: New Kids on the Block's Jordan Knight pictures life as a teenage boy band in 2012". Chicago Tribune. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ↑ "Book Review: "New Kids on the Block: Five Brothers and a Million Sisters" by Nikki Van Noy". Yahoo. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ↑ "Boyz II Men". Mirage News. 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ↑ "Strip Scribbles: Boyz II Men, 'Crazy Girls,' 'Mamma Mia!' and Veronic DiCaire". Las Vegas Sun. 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ↑ "history of menudo". Seventeen. 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ↑ "Making Menudo / Main". MTV. 2007-08-02. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
- ↑ Ryzik, Melena (2007-10-01). "A Boy-Band Grad's Next Act". The New York Times.
- ↑ "Justin Timberlake 'to reunite with 'N Sync for special performance at the VMAs". Daily Mail. 2007-10-01.
- ↑ "'I couldn't afford to buy my son a £30 toy,': reveals bankrupt Westlife Shane Filan". Daily Mail. 2007-10-01.
- ↑ "Former Westlife Star Shane Filan Reveals Why He Kept His Bankruptcy Secret From Band, And His Gratitude To Louis Walsh". Huffington Post. 2007-10-01.
- ↑ Matthew Macaulay (19 July 2012). "Gary Barlow to receive music industry honour". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ↑ "Mark Owen swaps Take That for Doing Nothing". BBC. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- ↑ "The Business Strategy Behind One Direction's 'Midnight Memories' Roll-Out (From the Magazine)". Billboard. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 21 November 2013.
- ↑ "「ミュージックステーション」 - 3時間スペシャル -" (in Japanese). Retrieved January 9, 2014. Unknown parameter
|trans_title=
ignored (help); line feed character in|title=
at position 15 (help)CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (link) - ↑ Herskovitz, Jon (1999-10-10). "Boyzone to mark 20th anniversary with tour". Radio and Music. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ Herskovitz, Jon (1999-10-10). "First gay couple in boyband video". BBC. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "East 17 Biography". FOD Records. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Talent - 5ive". Entertainers. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Liberty X, Blue Atomic Kitten and Five in reunion concert at Castle Howard". The Scarborough News. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
- ↑ "Jonas Brothers Leave Disney's Hollywood Records". Billboard. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "Jonas Brothers Break Up...With Record Label". E! Magazine. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "'MMMBop'? Hanson are singing a new 'Anthem'". Metro News. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "About Hanson". Hanson Official Website. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "Blue's Lee Ryan: "I went on three-day booze binge and ended up crying on a stranger's shoulder"". Daily Mirror. 10 October 1999. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
- ↑ "Blue to join Wet Wet Wet gig". U TV. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "Boy bands can't touch New Edition's track record". Pulse. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- ↑ "Look Who's Back! New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees, and Boyz II Men". Parade Magazine. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ "98 Degrees' Drew Lachey on the Band's Comeback, 'Microphone' & More". Daily Beast. 1999-10-10. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
- ↑ Grossberg, Josh (2007-07-25). "Backstreet Boys Unite!". E! Entertainment Television. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ "Liz the 'Fame' Dame". BBC News. 2000-02-15. Retrieved 2012-01-07.
- ↑ Taylor, Chuck (23 May 1998). Backstreet Boys View Their Teen Act Origins As Just The Start Of A Career. Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2011. Search this book on
- ↑ http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblDiamond
- ↑ Fulton, Rick (October 26, 2007). "Taking It Back". Daily Record. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ "New Kids On The Block Very Serious About Loving You Forever". Idolator. October 26, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ "Classic 90's Music: New Kids on the Block- Hangin' Tough to Step by Step". Yahoo. October 26, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
- ↑ "Australian certifications database". Australian Recording Industry Association. 23 May 1998. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Bundesverband Musikindustrie: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank". musikindustrie.de.
- ↑ "Dutch certifications". 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ↑ "BPI Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
This article "List of best-selling boy bands" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.