No 90s bedroom was complete without a boy band poster. The decade started with the tail end of New Kids on the Block and the smooth harmonies of Boyz II Men, and ended with a full-blown pop war between the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC. Along the way came Hanson, 98 Degrees and a wave of British and Irish groups that ruled the charts across the Atlantic.
Quick answer
The biggest 90s boy bands were the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Boyz II Men, New Kids on the Block, 98 Degrees and Hanson in the US, plus Take That, Westlife and Boyzone in the UK and Ireland. The Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC led the late-90s teen pop explosion.
Key takeaways
- Boyz II Men owned the early 90s with record-breaking R&B ballads.
- The Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC both formed in Orlando and became fierce rivals.
- British and Irish boy bands were huge in Europe, with fewer US hits.
The 15 biggest 90s boy bands
| # | Band | From | Breakout | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Backstreet Boys | Orlando, US | 1996–1997 | Huge harmonies; the album Millennium (1999) |
| 2 | *NSYNC | Orlando, US | 1998 | Sharp choreography; record first-week sales for No Strings Attached (2000) |
| 3 | Boyz II Men | Philadelphia, US | 1991 | R&B ballads that held number one for months |
| 4 | New Kids on the Block | Boston, US | Late 80s | The template for the 90s boy band |
| 5 | 98 Degrees | Cincinnati, US | 1997–1998 | Pop-R&B harmonies |
| 6 | Hanson | Tulsa, US | 1997 | Three brothers who played their own instruments |
| 7 | Take That | Manchester, UK | 1992–1993 | UK chart domination |
| 8 | Westlife | Ireland | 1999 | A long run of UK number-one ballads |
| 9 | Boyzone | Ireland | 1994 | Irish pop ballads and covers |
| 10 | All-4-One | California, US | 1994 | A smash wedding ballad |
| 11 | East 17 | London, UK | 1993 | A street-style rival to Take That |
| 12 | 5ive | UK | 1997 | Pop with a rap edge |
| 13 | LFO | Massachusetts, US | 1999 | A late-90s summer hit |
| 14 | Color Me Badd | Oklahoma, US | 1991 | Early-90s new jack swing |
| 15 | O-Town | Orlando, US | 2000 | Formed on a reality TV show |
Boyz II Men and the early-90s R&B era
Before the teen pop boom, the biggest vocal group in America was Boyz II Men. Their debut arrived in 1991, and in 1992 their ballad "End of the Road" spent a record-breaking 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. They broke their own record more than once later in the decade. Their sound, which was smooth harmony with R&B production, shaped almost every vocal group that followed.
Backstreet Boys vs *NSYNC
The Backstreet Boys formed in Orlando in 1993 and found success in Europe first before breaking big in the US. *NSYNC formed in Orlando in 1995 under the same manager, and the rivalry was immediate. Fans picked a side: the Backstreet Boys were the harmony-heavy heartthrobs, *NSYNC were the dance-machine underdogs with Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez on lead vocals.
The rivalry peaked as the decade ended. The Backstreet Boys' Millennium (1999) was a global blockbuster, and *NSYNC's No Strings Attached (2000) sold about 2.4 million copies in the US in its first week, a record that stood for 15 years. Both groups' manager was later convicted of fraud, and both bands left him over contract disputes.
Fun fact: Hanson were the outliers of the boy band era: three brothers from Oklahoma who wrote songs and played their own instruments. Their 1997 breakout hit was everywhere that summer.
- Name
- Jessica R.
- Member since
- 1998
- Fave member
- The shy one
What made a 90s boy band
The roles
The heartthrob, the shy one, the bad boy, the funny one and the older brother figure.
The choreography
Tight, synchronized dance routines in every video and live show.
The look
Coordinated outfits, frosted tips, curtains haircuts and lots of white.
The ballads
At least one slow song per album, with a key change near the end.
The merch
Posters, lunchboxes, dolls, calendars and fan club magazines.
The TV
Music video countdown shows and concert specials made them household names.
Want the look? Frosted tips and curtains were boy band staples; see our guide to 90s hairstyles for men.
Conclusion
90s boy bands turned pop into a team sport, and many of them are still touring for fans who grew up with them. For the other side of the story, read about 90s girl groups, or rediscover the songs that only had one moment in 90s one hit wonders.
Frequently asked questions
What was the biggest boy band of the 90s?
The Backstreet Boys are usually named the biggest 90s boy band by sales, with *NSYNC as their main rival. Boyz II Men were the biggest of the early 90s, with record-breaking number-one singles.
When did *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys form?
The Backstreet Boys formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993, and *NSYNC formed there in 1995. Both groups were assembled by the same manager.
Who were the members of *NSYNC?
Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone and Lance Bass.
Who were the members of the Backstreet Boys?
Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson.
What were the big British and Irish boy bands of the 90s?
Take That, Boyzone, Westlife, 5ive and East 17 were among the biggest boy bands in the UK and Ireland.
Are 90s boy bands still touring?
Several are. The Backstreet Boys, New Kids on the Block, Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, Westlife and Take That have all toured in recent years.