Backstreet Boys are a Grammy-nominated American boy band. They were the first group launched by fallen boy band mogul Lou Pearlman. They officially became a band on April 20, 1993.


They have had 13 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and have sold over 200 million records including over 120 million albums outside the United States, making them one of the best selling music artists of all time, and biggest selling boy band of all time. They were number 1 in concert and album sales from 1997-2005 (when they earned $533.1 million).
After returning to the music scene in 2005, their sound changed dramatically, incorporating only live instruments (some of which they play themselves) and a more guitar and piano driven pop rock sound. The four-member group consists of Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell and A. J. McLean. Original member Kevin Richardson left the group on June 23, 2006 to begin a family, but the four-piece refused to rule out a possible return for the singer.