Boy Band

A boy band is a vocal group of young male singers, typically assembled in their teens or early twenties and marketed primarily to a young audience. Members sing close harmonies and perform choreographed dance routines rather than playing instruments, dividing lead parts over polished pop, R&B and dance productions built around romantic themes. The format was industrialised in the 1980s and 1990s, when managers and record labels controlled image, repertoire and publicity, and acts such as *New Kids on the Block* and *Backstreet Boys* converted that control into very large record sales, touring grosses and merchandising revenue.