Top 10 Boy Bands of the 2000s

After debuting in 2006 and winning the Mnet Asian Music Award for “Best Male Group” in 2007, BIGBANG’s rise to the top wasn’t an introduction: it was an explosion. They’re dubbed the “Kings of Kpop” for a reason. The 2nd generation Korean idol group is known for breaking records and capturing hearts, all while forging their own signature sound. Kpop is only as popular as it is today because groups like BIGBANG paved the way for boy bands to follow. Before taking a break in 2009, they had earned millions, performed sold out shows, and released back-to-back chart-topping singles.

Even when the late ‘90s boy band craze began to die down, these “Boys of the New Millennium” never lost momentum. On top of singing, dancing, and good looks, B2K added the thriving early aughts hip hop and RnB scene to the boy band formula. If you don’t recognize their debut single “Uh Huh,” you probably remember their number one hit “Bump, Bump, Bump,” featuring P. Diddy. The group was cast in a movie, collaborated with music legends, and won multiple awards for their work. Sadly, the band ended up parting ways in 2004.

Following the huge success of their ‘99 single “Summer Girls,” LFO was fully-booked for the turn of the millennium. They had launched a tour of their own, opened for Britney Spears, and were making the awards show rounds. Their album had sold millions of copies and even broke into the UK market. The group was managed by Lou Pearlman, who formed the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, but LFO failed to reach the same level of boy band success. When their 2001 album underperformed, the band’s career came to a close the following year.

They were almost known as “Just Us” or “Next Issue,” but when this boy band of Ohio natives were signed to Motown, they soon became just as hot as their name. In 1998, the number turned out to be good luck for the band, with a feature on Disney’s “Mulan” and a hit album that went four times platinum. Even with so many boy bands dominating the market, the group was still churning out high-charting ballads and star-studded collaborations. They announced a hiatus in 2003, and while it lasted nearly a decade, fans were ecstatic when the group reunited in 2012.

Believe it or not, the origins of this Irish boy band can be traced all the way back to a secondary school performance of Grease. Though the leather jackets stuck, there were several name changes and a few new faces by the time Simon Cowell signed the band known as Westlife. Their lovesick ballads immediately soared to success in the UK. Though they never quite managed to capture a US audience beyond their popular track “Swear It Again,” the group is one of the highest selling boy bands of all time. To put their achievements in perspective, the only artists with more UK number ones are Elvis and the Beatles, which puts them right on par with Cliff Richard and Ed Sheeran.

Created by the label that brought the world the Spice Girls, this five-member group was a British sensation. Whether it was remixing Queen or their single “Slam Dunk (Da Funk)” becoming the NBA theme song, 5ive wasn’t just another cookie-cutter pop group. While many of the boy bands at the time were promoting RnB ballads, 5ive were known for their unique pop and hip hop fusion. After several years of success, member Sean Conlon was mysteriously replaced by a cardboard cut out in the 2001 “Let’s Dance” music video. Unfortunately, Conlon’s eventual departure and drama with the label led to the group splitting up later that year.

The product of the 2000 reality show "Making the Band," O-Town burned bright and fast. Their first hit single, "Liquid Dreams,” had young audiences belting out some not-so-subtle innuendos. Then, their award-nominated ballad "All or Nothing" rose to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It seemed like the group was primed for the climb to boy band stardom, but their second album failed to perform as well as their first. In 2003, the label let the band go. The members went on to pursue solo careers as songwriters, country music artists, and even Broadway stars before reuniting (minus Ashley Parker Angel) in 2013.

When boy band music had fallen into a deep slump and it seemed all hope was lost, the Jonas Brothers arrived on the scene to save the day. The trio of brothers from New Jersey rose from Disney Channel stars to worldwide sensations, shifting the boy band image to fit their pop rock band style. Soon, their success was even greater than the number of “Jo Bros” posters on teenagers’ walls. The group was topping charts, selling out shows, and they were even nominated for a Grammy. Though their 2011 hiatus and eventual split initially cut the band’s career short, the brothers came together for a chart-topping reunion in 2019, proving they’re here to stay.

Even with the record-breaking success of modern boy groups who followed the Backstreet blueprint, this iconic group remains the highest-selling boy band in history. Their success is partially due to their long-term consistency, something most boy bands lack. While they built their success in the ‘90s, they only continued to crank out radio hits and chart-topping albums, even after a short-lived hiatus from 2002-2004. From 1999 to 2002 alone, the group earned 8 Grammy nominations, and their impact on the music industry is truly unmatched. How can you ever forget "Backstreet's Back!" or "I Want It That Way"? Plus, the band is still going strong today!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

BBMak
The Musically Gifted Liverpool Trio

2ge+her
A Group That Began as Boy Band Satire

Soul Decision
A Canadian Boy Band with the Catchiest Hits

Super Junior
The Kpop Super Giants with A Long-Lasting Legacy

B5
Five Brothers Who Formed an RnB Group

In January of 2000, NSYNC asserted their dominance over the new millennium with their signature single “Bye Bye Bye.” Unlike so many boy bands at the time, the group never fell victim to a “sophomore slump.” Their second album broke records with more than a million sales in one day. The band became a hit-making-machine, and from Grammy nominations to Super Bowl halftime shows, NSYNC really were the noughties it boys. In 2002, the group announced a hiatus that would turn permanent, while stand out member Justin Timberlake would go on to build an impressive solo career of his own.